More than two years after he was accused of embezzlement and perjury, Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price faced two additional public corruption charges, the LA County District Attorney’s office announced Tuesday.
The DA’s office said it uncovered evidence that LA’s housing authority and LA Metro paid Price’s wife more than $800,000 when the councilmember voted to award the agency’s multimillion-dollar contract.
The initial criminal complaint against Price in 2023 also alleged Price had financial interests in projects he voted on and had the city pay for medical benefits for his now-wife, Del Richardson-Price, while he was still married to another woman.
Before the additional charges were announced Tuesday, Price had been charged with five counts of grand theft by embezzlement, three counts of perjury and two counts of conflict of interest by then-District Attorney George Gascon.
“Embezzling public funds and awarding contracts for your own financial gain is the antithesis of public service,” Hochman said in a statement. “Self-dealing and pay-to-play politics will not be tolerated in Los Angeles County.”
Back in 2023, after Price stepped down from leadership roles on the city council, his supporters vehemently opposed his suspension, saying their district needed representation as Price wasn’t convicted of any crime at the time.
If the new charges lead to a new decision by the council, Price could become the third city councilmember to be suspended in the last several years over criminal charges.