Disgraced former Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar is expected to surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons today to begin his 13-year prison sentence for accepting bribes from downtown developers and cheating on his taxes.
Huizar had previously been ordered to self-surrender on Aug. 30, but was granted a five-week continuance for “good cause.”
Papers filed in federal court show that Huizar based his continuance request on “a new, unexpected, and extraordinary event,” apparently connected to undisclosed medical reasons.
The government did not object, documents show. Huizar, 56, pleaded guilty in January 2023 to felony charges of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and tax evasion.
Along with the 13-year prison term, Huizar was ordered to pay nearly $444,000 in restitution to the city of Los Angeles and almost $39,000 to the Internal Revenue Service.
A court filing in February signed by the judge indicates Huizar paid the latter amount in full.