LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price was charged Tuesday with theft by embezzlement, perjury and conflict of interest for allegedly voting on projects involving developers tied to his wife’s consulting firm, then failing to report the connections.
Thomas Safran, is an appointee of President Joe Biden, is alleged to have cut checks to Del Richardson & Associates, a company that was founded by Los Angeles Councilman Curren Price’s wife, Delbra Richardson. Richardson later sold DRA to Taurean and Tamyra Gordon, who acquired it through their joint business Greenwood Seneca.
According to the complaint, between 2019 and 2021, Price’s wife’s consulting firm, Del Richardson & Associates, received payments totaling more than $150,000 from a pair of developers, after which Price voted on matters pertaining to the companies. He also allegedly failed to report the connections or the money paid to his wife’s company on city disclosure forms.
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The other developer is GTM Holdings/WORKS whose CEO is Mark Walther who was a regular campaign donor to former Councilman Gil Cedillo.
It is not immediately known if Safran and Walther will face any charges.
The criminal complaint also alleges that Price effectively embezzled money between 2013 and 2017 by having the city cover roughly $33,800 in medical premiums for Del Richardson, to whom he claimed to be married, although he was still married at the time to Lynn Suzette Price.
The councilman was charged with five counts of grand theft by embezzlement, three counts of perjury and two counts of conflict of interest, according to a criminal complaint provided by the District Attorney’s Office. An arraignment date was not immediately set.
“Curren Price is a longstanding public servant who has given his life to the city of Los Angeles. He looks forward to defending himself once he’s had an opportunity to address these charges,” she said.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Price sent a letter to Council President Paul Krekorian announcing his decision to step down as council president pro tem, and surrendering all of his committee assignments. He will, however, retain his council seat.
“While I navigate through the judicial system to defend my name against unwarranted charges filed against me, the last thing I want to do is be a distraction to the people’s business,” Price wrote in the letter, first obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
“Today’s charges against Councilman Curren Price are the result of a thorough investigation into allegations of public corruption,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. “This alleged conduct undermines the integrity of our government and erodes the public’s trust in our elected officials. We will continue to work tirelessly to root out corruption at all levels and hold accountable those who betray the public’s trust.”
Read the full complaint here.
City News Service contributed to this report.