Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price has stepped down from leadership roles after the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office announced on Tuesday that he has been charged with embezzlement and perjury.
Price faces five counts of grand theft by embezzlement, three counts of perjury, and two counts of conflict of interest, the D.A.’s Office said.
“Today’s charges against Councilman Curren Price are the result of a thorough investigation into allegations of public corruption. This alleged conduct undermines the integrity of our government and erodes the public’s trust in our elected officials,” D.A. George Gascón said in a news release.
According to the district attorney’s office, Price’s wife received payments of more than $150,000 from developers between 2019 and 2021 before the councilman voted to approve their projects. Prosecutors then allege that Price failed to list the money his wife received on government disclosure forms.
“Price is prohibited from having a financial interest associated with any project that was before the City Council,” the release noted.
The councilman is also accused of receiving some $33,800 in medical coverage for his wife while he was married to another woman.
“Effective immediately, it is with my deepest regrets that I have made the painful decision to step down from my position as L.A. City Council President Pro Tempore and all related leadership responsibilities. I am also stepping down from all committee assignments,” Price said in a letter to Council President Paul Krekorian. “While I navigate through the judicial system to defend my name against unwarranted charges filed against me, the last thing I want to do is be a distraction to the people’s business.”
The council has been rocked by a series of scandals. In March, former Los Angeles County supervisor and Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas was convicted on federal corruption charges.
Last year, a racism scandal that shook public trust in L.A.’s government triggered the resignation of then-City Council President Nury Martinez and a powerful labor leader, Ron Herrera.
Price was first elected to the council in 2013. His district includes South Los Angeles and parts of the city’s downtown. His term is set to expire in 2026.
“We have not seen the charges filed against Councilmember Curren Price. It’s highly unusual for charges like this to be brought up against a sitting City Councilmember without any prior notice or discussion,” Angelina Valencia-Dumarot, a spokesperson for Price, said in an email.
She added that Price, “looks forward to defending himself once he’s had an opportunity to address these charges.”
A spokesperson for Mayor Karen Bass told KTLA that the mayor has been unable to review the charges filed against Price earlier today, but that she is saddened by the news.
The councilman had attended a city council meeting earlier in the day Tuesday.
The charges were first reported Tuesday by the Los Angeles Times.