Former L.A. City Councilman José Huizar was sentenced Friday to 13 years in federal prison for using his powerful position at City Hall to shake down real estate developers for at least $1.5 million in cash and benefits in exchange for help driving downtown real estate projects through the city’s approval process, and for cheating on his taxes.
Huizar, 55, of Boyle Heights, “made a business of his public office at the expense of the citizens of Los Angeles,” U.S. District Judge John Walter said from the bench before imposing sentence.
Huizar sat stonily during the two-hour hearing in downtown Los Angeles, briefly addressing the court to apologize to his family and former constituents. He said he hoped others in public office would take heed of his current situation.
The judge gave Huizar until April 30 to begin serving his sentence. Along with the prison term, Walter ordered restitution of $443,905 payable to the city of Los Angeles and $38,792 to the Internal Revenue Service. Huizar must also serve three years of supervised release following prison.