A judge Friday denied a bid for a mistrial in the public corruption case of former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan, who is awaiting sentencing on a dozen federal criminal convictions tied to disgraced ex-Councilman Jose Huizar’s City Hall pay-to-play scheme.
The defense motion for a mistrial, or at least an evidentiary hearing, was filed earlier this month based on an overheard comment in which a juror, walking outside court with other panelists after the start of deliberations, commented that the juror hoped the group would arrive at a “quick verdict,” court papers show.
In a minute order posted Friday, U.S. District Judge John Walter wrote that a mistrial or evidentiary hearing was not warranted, and pulled a hearing set for next week from his calendar.
Specifically, the court found “there was no juror misconduct, and that even if the jurors’ comments could be construed as misconduct, such conduct was not serious and did not prejudice defendant. Defendant received a fair trial.”
Chan, 67, of Monterey Park, was found guilty on March 27 of all 12 felony counts he faced: one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, seven counts of honest services wire fraud, three counts of bribery, and one count of making false statements to a federal government agency.
Formerly the general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, Chan later served as deputy mayor of economic development from 2016 to 2017.
Chan was a key member of the so-called Council District 14 enterprise, a conspiracy in which Huizar — assisted by others — unlawfully used his office to give favorable treatment to wealthy developers in exchange for cash bribes and other illicit benefits.
Chan’s sentencing hearing is set for June 10 in Los Angeles federal court.
Huizar, 55, pleaded guilty last year to felony charges for using his powerful position at City Hall to enrich himself and his associates, and for cheating on his taxes. He was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison and ordered to surrender to begin his sentence no later than Aug. 30.