Overview

Los Angeles Councilmember Curren Price has entered a not guilty plea regarding multiple corruption charges, which include embezzlement and conflict of interest. The councilman, who has served for many years and represents City District 9 in South Los Angeles, appeared in court on Friday wearing a gray suit.

Price is facing serious allegations that involve financial misconduct linked to his personal relationships and professional decisions.

Key details

  • Curren Price pleaded not guilty to corruption charges on Friday.
  • The charges include embezzlement and conflict of interest.
  • Price represents City District 9 in South Los Angeles.
  • He appeared in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom in a gray suit.
  • Price is accused of voting to allocate millions of dollars in grants to a real estate consulting business owned by his wife, Delbra Pettice Richardson.
  • He allegedly had the city pay for medical benefits for Richardson while still married to another woman.
  • Price has not resigned despite the allegations surfacing in 2023.
  • He is set to be termed out of his position at the end of 2026.
  • Price is scheduled to return to court on June 5 for a pretrial hearing.
  • If convicted, he could face up to 11 years and four months in custody.
  • This includes a potential sentence of up to nine years and four months in state prison and up to two years in county jail.
  • The charges are being prosecuted by the LA County District Attorney's Office.

Context

The allegations against Price have raised significant concerns about ethical conduct within local government, particularly regarding the intersection of personal relationships and public decision-making.

What happens next

Price's next court appearance is scheduled for June 5, where a pretrial hearing will take place to address the charges against him.

What we don't know yet

Details regarding the specific evidence supporting the charges and the timeline of events leading to the allegations have not been confirmed.