LA Councilmember Curren Price Addresses Allegations in $1 Million Scandal Involving Spouse’s Business

City Councilmember Curren Price, who is embroiled in a significant corruption scandal, entered a not guilty plea on Friday. He faces accusations of directing nearly $1 million to his wife’s consulting business and charging her health insurance costs to taxpayers, as his case moves swiftly toward a trial.

Price, a veteran member of the council, is confronting 12 felony charges, which encompass grand theft by embezzlement, conflicts of interest, and perjury.

According to prosecutors, these charges are the result of a longstanding pattern of financial activities that were not properly declared.

The allegations suggest that Price consistently participated in voting on city matters that involved his wife, Delbra Pettice Richardson’s real estate consulting company, Del Richardson & Associates, Inc. This firm offers relocation support and community outreach for developers and public entities.

It is claimed that Richardson’s company received over $950,000 between 2019 and 2021 from developers, the Los Angeles Housing Authority, and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority while pursuing projects with the city.

Prosecutors contend that these financial connections were omitted from mandatory state disclosures.

They also accuse Price of improperly using about $33,800 in city funds to cover Richardson’s medical benefits while he was still legally married to another woman, a key pillar of the embezzlement case.

If convicted, Price faces up to 11 years and four months behind bars.

LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman called the case “a significant step toward holding Curren Price accountable for years of alleged corruption.”

He joins a growing list of Los Angeles City councilmembers who have been brought down by corruption cases.

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In 2023, Mark Ridley-Thomas was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison over a bribery scheme tied to benefits for his son.

José Huizar was hit with a 13-year sentence after pleading guilty to racketeering and tax evasion. And Mitchell Englander served time for obstructing a corruption probe tied to cash and gifts.

Price is due back in court June 5 for a pretrial hearing.