Ex-LA Councilman Mitch Englander sentenced to 14 months in prison for lying to FBI
Published article
Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander backstage at Making Movies That Matter Film Festival on May 19, 2016 in Northridge, California. (Photo by Lilly Lawrence/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - Former Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch Englander was sentenced Monday to a year and two months in federal prison for trying to obstruct an investigation into bribery allegations in City Hall politics.
The ex-councilman was also ordered to serve three years under supervised release following his prison term and pay a $15,000 fine.
Englander who represented Council District 12 in the San Fernando Valley from July 2011 until he abruptly resigned three years ago after investigators began asking questions about his activities was told to surrender June 1 to begin serving his sentence.
By City News Service
Jan 13, 2021
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Federal prosecutors are recommending a two-year prison sentence for former Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch Englander, who pleaded guilty to obstructing an investigation into allegations of bribery in City Hall politics, according to court papers obtained today.
Englander was a “powerful and wealthy Los Angeles city councilmember who swore an oath to serve the interests of his constituents, prosecutors wrote in sentencing papers filed in Los Angeles federal court. “He swore another oath as a reserve officer with the Los Angeles Police Department to uphold and protect the law. Instead, (he) illicitly cashed in on his status as a purported public servant in casino bathrooms and through VIP bottle service, luxury dinners, and behind hotel room doors.
When healthcare workers at Olympia Medical Center reported for work on New Year’s Eve, they were prepared for another grueling day of patient care amid L.A.’s worsening COVID-19 surge. What they weren’t prepared for was the laminated paper taped to the front door.
“Olympia Medical Center has elected to voluntarily suspend all patient care services, including the emergency department and all emergency medical services, as of 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2021,” the notice said.
Employees were outraged, blindsided and concerned, with one medical staff officer calling it a “terrible public health mistake” to close an L.A. hospital in the midst of the pandemic.