Mitchell Englander, Public Corruption, California 2023
A former Los Angeles city councilman has been charged with obstructing a public corruption probe and making false statements.
Mitchell Englander, 49, of Santa Monica, surrendered to FBI agents this morning to face seven federal counts, including participating in a scheme to falsify material facts, making false statements, and witness tampering.
The indictment alleges that Englander schemed to cover up his acceptance of cash payments, expensive meals, and escort services from a businessman during trips to Las Vegas and Palm Springs.
According to the indictment, from August 2017 through December 2018, Englander knowingly and willfully falsified and concealed material facts pertaining to the federal public corruption investigation.
On a trip to Las Vegas in June 2017, Englander accepted an envelope with $10,000 in cash, services from a female escort, hotel rooms, $1,000 in casino gambling chips, $34,000 in bottle service at a nightclub, and a $2,481 dinner at a restaurant, the indictment alleges.
Englander is expected to be arraigned this afternoon at 2:00 in the Roybal Federal Building and Courthouse.
The indictment charges Englander with:
- Participating in a scheme to falsify material facts
- Making false statements (3 counts)
- Witness tampering (3 counts)
Englander represented Los Angeles Council District 12 in the San Fernando Valley from July 2011 until he abruptly resigned on December 31, 2018.
Among his other duties, Englander served as the Council President Pro-Tempore and was on the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee, which oversees many of the most significant commercial and residential development projects in the City of Los Angeles.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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