List of Top California Politicians Sent to Prison and Why

THE CITY--An FBI investigation of powerful LA City Councilmember Jose Huizar is roiling City Hall, his wife Richelle has dropped her bid for her husband's seat, and the Planning and Land Use Management Committee that Huizer chaired is in disarray. 

As chair, Huizar championed dozens of development deals that destroyed historic buildings and affordable housing and ignored LA zoning codes, Community Plans and the General Plan. 
 
As a public service, below we have created a list of California politicians convicted of crimes. Charges against these towering figures include money laundering, gun trafficking, racketeering, bribery, public corruption, perjury and voter fraud. One convicted was a Los Angeles City Councilmember who took bribes from developers. 

• State Sen. Ron Calderon (D), Tom's brother, convicted of money laundering. 

• Assemblyman Tom Calderon (D), Ron's brother, convicted, money laundering. 

• State Sen. Leland Yee (D) convicted of bribery, corruption, gun trafficking. 

• State Sen. Roderick Wright (D) convicted of perjury, voter fraud. 

• Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (D) convicted, shoplifting at Neiman Marcus.  

• "Shrimpgate" led to prison for 12 officials: Board of Equalization Member Paul B. Carpenter(D), state Sen. Joseph B. Montoya (D), state Sen. Alan Robbins (D), Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R), Assemblyman Frank C. Hill (R), Coastal Commissioner Mark L. Nathanson, lobbyist Clayton R. Jackson and their aides. 

• LA City Councilman Tom Shepard and Recreation and Parks Commissioner Mel Pierson were indicted by a grand jury in 1968 for taking bribes to rezone land in San Fernando Valley. Shepard was convicted in 1969 and sentenced to state prison by Superior Court Judge Pearce Young. Judge Young said the power to rezone was the power to create great wealth and that using that power wrongfully "is just as bad as stealing public money."  

 (Ileana Wachtel writes for 2preservela and is an occasional contributor to CityWatch. Jill Stewart, a former journalist, is executive director of the Coalition to Preserve LA, sponsor of the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative. The Coalition to Preserve LA can be reached [email protected].) Prepped for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.

 -cw