A former Los Angeles deputy mayor was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for soliciting and accepting over $750,000 in bribes for himself and facilitating over $1 million in bribes to then-Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced today.
Raymond She Wah Chan, 68, of Monterey Park, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John F. Walter and ordered to pay $752,457 in restitution to the City of Los Angeles.
According to court documents, Chan played a pivotal role in a long-running racketeering conspiracy that involved bribing public officials in exchange for favorable city approvals on real estate developments.
On March 27, 2024, a jury found Chan guilty on all 12 felony counts, including conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, honest services wire fraud, federal program bribery, and making false statements to federal agents.
“Chan abused his public office and sought to deepen the corruption of city politics for his own business interests,” stated U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “Today’s sentence sends a strong message that our government is not for sale and that those who undermine democracy will be held accountable.”