Mark Ridley-Thomas has lost another bid to escape the federal corruption convictions that ended his long Los Angeles political career. A three-judge Ninth Circuit panel upheld the verdict Monday, leaving the former county supervisor facing a 42-month prison sentence unless he wins another round of review.
The panel, meeting in Pasadena, ruled that a lower court did not err when it rejected Ridley-Thomas’ request for an acquittal on the honest-services fraud counts, according to MyNewsLA.com. The judges found that the $100,000 transfer routed through USC for the benefit of his son’s nonprofit was a “thing of value” that could support the convictions.
The court also described former USC dean Marilyn Flynn’s assistance with the transfer as an “impermissible string attached” to Ridley-Thomas’ support for a telehealth contract amendment. In plain English, the panel accepted prosecutors’ argument that the arrangement was not merely a politician donating his own money, but a benefit tied to official action while he served on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, as reported by MyNewsLA.com.
How The USC Deal Worked
The case centered on a complicated exchange involving Ridley-Thomas, Flynn and his son, Sebastian Ridley-Thomas. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said Flynn provided Sebastian with graduate-school admission, a full-tuition scholarship and a paid professorship, while also helping route $100,000 from Ridley-Thomas’ campaign account through USC to a nonprofit connected to his son.
In return, prosecutors said Ridley-Thomas supported contracts involving USC’s School of Social Work, including a county telehealth agreement that could have generated millions of dollars in new revenue. The Justice Department said the campaign money was funneled through USC to obscure its source and make the university appear to be the benefactor.
Defense Arguments Failed At Pasadena Hearing
Ridley-Thomas’ attorneys argued during the appeal that the transfer method was intended to avoid the appearance of nepotism and that the government had not proved an unlawful quid pro quo. Those arguments were aired before the Pasadena panel in November 2024, when the defense also contended that using Ridley-Thomas’ own campaign funds could not itself constitute a bribe, according to CBS Los Angeles.
What Happens To The 42-Month Sentence
Ridley-Thomas was convicted in March 2023 of conspiracy, bribery and honest-services mail and wire fraud, then sentenced to 42 months in federal prison and fined $30,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A judge allowed him to remain free on bail while the appeal moved forward.
The panel’s ruling does not necessarily end the case. Ridley-Thomas may ask the full Ninth Circuit to rehear the appeal, a procedure the court describes through its en banc process, though such review is not automatic.
Why The Ruling Matters
The legal fight was not simply about a campaign donation or a family member’s job prospects. The Justice Department’s earlier account of Flynn’s guilty plea said the transfer was arranged while she sought county approval of a lucrative contract amendment, making the timing and connection between the money and Ridley-Thomas’ official conduct central to the case.
For Los Angeles, the decision adds another firm marker to the collapse of a political career that included service on the City Council, in the state Legislature and on the county Board of Supervisors. Ridley-Thomas was permanently removed from the City Council after his conviction, and his latest appeal has now been turned away by the same federal court where he once hoped to clear his name.
