Legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff dissected the sentencing memo in the Mark Ridley-Thomas public corruption files and explained to her nearly 81,000 social media followers that it read like a RICO conspiracy.
The memo lays out how Ridley-Thomas and his son Sebastian, planned on funding Policy, Research and Practice Initiative, a new think tank he created, with nonprofit status, through a relationship with the United Ways of California.
“County business was the defendant’s (MRT) personal bargaining chip for private gain and how he planned to fundraise for his son via PRPI.”
Was PRPI really Mark Ridley-Thomas’ business and not his son’s?
LA politician Mark Ridley-Thomas is to be sentenced at 10 am for his @USC bribery scheme. Prosecutors want six years in prison; he wants probation. I finally got a chance to consume the memos and was 👀👀👀 at these details about what reads like an uncharged RICO conspiracy. pic.twitter.com/FTBLKtZLPQ
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 28, 2023
Maybe I missed the five-part grassroots journalism series exploring the intricacies of MRT's Operation PRPI $$$$, but for those in the dark like me, here's the email his son sent. Also, the "Mum, is the word" and "Do not share this with ANYONE" exchange with lobbyist. (Subtle!) pic.twitter.com/boMFdW1KwH
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 28, 2023
My line about the five-part series refers to what prosecutors discuss in their six-year prison sentence recommendation: MRT’s post-conviction public relations campaign. (Five-part series included.) There has been great LA journalism about this scandal from @MattHjourno. pic.twitter.com/hMpnIw3Rql
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) August 28, 2023
