KFI AM 640. You're listening to the John Cobel podcast on the IHeart Radio app.

And it's a big day today. We have another former L.A. City Councilman going to prison.

We could have, we have Jose Weezar, the latest convicted felon. How about that? Get in line behind Mark Ridley Thomas.

Wow. Is this like the fourth one? I think that got, they got indicted and either pled guilty or got convicted. Today,

Weezar was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He had a bribery machine gone like nobody's business. He was the councilman for the

downtown area. And there were a lot of developers who wanted to build a lot of tall buildings

downtown. And to get that done, you had to go through Wiesar. And Wiesar charged a lot of money. And getting to the details in a moment.

He pleaded guilty to racketeering tax evasion charges. And this is what he told the judge.

Shiny things were dangled in front of me and I could not resist temptation.

The money, the fancy dinners, luxury flights, it was there for the taking.

And I was not strong enough to say no.

Well, he missed a few things.

Shiny things.

Well, it was a million and a half dollars in cash bribes.

A million and a half from multiple developers bribes, a million and a half from multiple developers,

gambling chips, luxury hotels, political contributions, and prostitute services.

I guess shiny prostitutes were dangled in front of them, expensive meals, and other financial benefits. And you had to pay him the bribes or you

didn't get your building built. In fact, the prosecutor said if anyone dared refuse his call to

pay bribes. He punished them and their city projects. He threatened developers

with indefinitely delaying the projects. Put them in front, financial peril. He had to pay

$440,000 in restitution to the city, $39,000 to the IRS. This whole scheme was uncovered beginning nine years ago in 2015.

The FBI got a tip.

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