La'S Curren Price Pleads Not Guilty In Nearly $1M Scandal: What'S Next For The Councilmember?

Embattled LA Councilmember's Legal Battle

Looks like the sun is setting on another political figure in the City of Angels. Embattled Councilmember Curren Price stood in court last Friday, entering a plea of not guilty in a scandal that’s making waves from downtown LA to the sunny shores of Malibu. He's accused of channeling almost $1 million into his wife’s consulting firm, a move that allegedly left LA taxpayers footing the bill for her health insurance.

Price, who’s a familiar face in the city’s political scene, is staring down 12 felony counts, including grand theft by embezzlement, conflict of interest, and perjury. The charges are the result of what prosecutors describe as a yearslong pattern of undisclosed financial dealings.

"This case is a significant step toward holding Curren Price accountable for years of alleged corruption," stated LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.

The Allegations

So what’s the deal with the accusations? Well, prosecutors claim that Price had a habit of casting votes on city business that involved his wife Delbra Pettice Richardson’s real estate consultancy, Del Richardson & Associates, Inc. This firm, which is known for its work in relocation assistance and community outreach, reportedly scored over $950,000 from developers, the LA Housing Authority, and the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority between 2019 and 2021.

Prosecutors allege these financial connections were never reported on mandatory state filings, raising questions about transparency and ethics. Adding fuel to the fire, Price is also accused of using approximately $33,800 in city funds for Richardson’s medical benefits while he was technically still hitched to someone else – a critical point in the embezzlement accusations.

A Growing List of City Hall Scandals

If found guilty, Price could be looking at 11 years and four months behind bars. This tumultuous case is the latest in a series of corruption scandals rocking the LA City Council.

In 2023, former councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas was handed a 42-month sentence over a bribery scheme linked to favors for his son. Then there’s José Huizar, who got a 13-year sentence after admitting to racketeering and tax evasion charges, and Mitchell Englander who served time for obstructing a corruption probe tied to cash and lavish gifts.

Curren Price is expected back in court for a pretrial hearing on June 5. As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on the courtroom, waiting to see if this longtime councilman can weather the storm or if he'll be the next name on the list of fallen LA politicians.