WHERE WE STAND: FOUR YEARS LATER… CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
It has been four challenging years since a federal grand jury handed down an indictment of Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas and eleven months since the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard oral arguments in United States of America v. Mark Ridley-Thomas. To date, the Court has not rendered its opinion.
We will not know that a ruling has been made until it is posted online. In other words, there will be no advance notice. Even so, on this fourth anniversary of the indictment we remain optimistic and undeterred about what lies ahead for MRT and our community.
Let's be clear: we continue to stand by MRT’s decision to argue his case, defend his innocence, and challenge the prosecution’s constantly shifting narrative.
At trial, the USAO maintained MRT exchanged votes while on the County Board of Supervisors to extract benefits for his son, Sebastian, from USC that included things of value like graduate school admission, tuition, an adjunct professorship and funding for a community based think-tank. In closing remarks, the prosecution maintained that silent winks and nods, an emoji, and a discretionary $100,000 university sponsorship of the think-tank using donated funding that originated from a MRT-controlled ballot committee, constituted a criminal bribery offense. All this, despite the donation being properly reported according to state law.
The facts from the trial proved that neither MRT nor Sebastian received any financial benefit. In other words, the only reasonable inference to draw from the prosecution's argument was that MRT bribed himself.
Please remember that the jury found MRT not guilty of the charges associated with the tangible things of value: the benefits Sebastian received related to admission, tuition and the adjunct professorship. They found MRT guilty of the charges associated with the transfer of funds.
At sentencing, the government argued that MRT was the mastermind of a conspiracy to shakedown a hapless and helpless dean for favors using his leverage over a contract extension. However, the contract extension appropriated no additional funding beyond the original amount and was negotiated by the LA County Department of Mental Health, reviewed by the LA County Counsel, and unanimously approved and adopted by the LA County Board of Supervisors.
During the appeal, the USAO introduced a new argument. The value of the contribution from USC to the community think-tank was the time it gave the think-tank to hire a staff person unrelated to MRT or his son. This “time value of money” theory should constitute disallowable “new evidence” but more importantly, it underscores the prosecution's constant shifting narrative that has always been a routine feature of this case.
It comes as no surprise that the Ninth Circuit has been busy this past year, deciding cases about state’s rights, presidential power, and more. Nevertheless, as supporters of MRT, we remain hopeful about the Court’s decision, which could be any day now.
KEY DATES OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS: AN ABRIDGED CHRONOLOGY
October 13, 2021
Without the benefit or courtesy of a conversation or notification with counsel, then Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas was indicted on nineteen counts—including conspiracy, bribery, honest services fraud and mail fraud.
Julia Wick
March 08, 2023
United States of America vs Mark Ridley-Thomas trial begins in DTLA Federal District Court, Judge Dale Fischer presiding.
lafocus
March 30, 2023
Jury returns verdict finding MRT guilty of seven out of nineteen charges.
CD10 Voices
Erika D. Smith
August 28, 2023
US District Judge Dale Fischer sentenced MRT to three years and six months in federal prison, plus three years of supervised release, and a $30,000.00 fine.
CD10 Voices
Matt Hamilton
Erika D. Smith
OUR WEEKLY LLC
September 11, 2023 | 12:36 PM | 2 min read
Ridley-Thomas Announces New Legal Team To Handle Appeal
Today, Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit challenging his convictions and sentence. In addition to initiating the
October 02, 2023
MRT defense counsel Appeal filed a 37-page motion before the federal trial district court requesting bail so that he wouldn’t be confined in federal prison while appealing his conviction.
Celeste Fremon
CD10 Voices
October 05, 2023
Judge Dale S. Fischer signed the order allowing MRT to remain out of prison while appealing his case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
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CD10 Voices
January 25, 2024
Appellant’s Opening Brief submitted to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
lafocus
Jon Regardie
February 01, 2024
Three amicus briefs were submitted to the Ninth District Circuit Court in support of the MRT’s opening brief.
Celeste Fremon
CD10 Voices
SPECIAL REPORT: Appellate & Amicus Legal Teams Educate MRT Supporters
Prepared by Vincent M. Harris and Brett D. Louie
United States of America vs. Mark Ridley-Thomas is attracting national attention as a result of his appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals with the filing of no less than three friends of the court briefs from legal scholars, civil
June 10, 2024
Appellant’s Reply Brief submitted to the Ninth District Circuit Court rebutting the prosecution’s argument seeking to ensure that the Federal District Court’s conviction is upheld.
CD10 Voices
OW Staff
June 26, 2024
A major breakthrough case “USA vs Snyder” was handed down.
CD10 Voices
No “pattern of corruption” in contracts inked during Ridley-Thomas’ tenure, probe finds
By Rebecca Ellis | Oct. 30, 2024 3 AM PT
The bulk of contracts Los Angeles County inked during the 12-year tenure of former Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, the formidable politician convicted last year on corruption charges, were untainted by fraud, according to a years-long outside investigation.
“We did not identify a pattern of corruption and fraud,” Dan Shallman, a partner at the law firm Covington & Burling, told county supervisors Tuesday. “That’s the good news.”
The bad news, Shallman continued, is that the county’s contracting process, closely scrutinized during the nearly three-year forensic audit, is full of holes.
USA v MRT: Appeals Court Panel Selected, Argument Set for November 21
By OW Staff | 11/13/24
The random selection of the three judge panel that will hear Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas’s appeal of his conviction on bribery, conspiracy and honest services mail and wire fraud charges before the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has been made public.
November 21, 2024
Oral Argument in the case of USA vs MRT was held at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals before an overflow audience of supporters of MRT.
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