LA Councilmember Curren Price Pleads Not Guilty in Corruption Case

The 75-year-old faces up to 11 years in custody if convicted on a dozen felony counts.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:08pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty city council chamber, with warm sunlight streaming in through the windows and deep shadows casting a somber mood, conceptually representing the political turmoil surrounding the corruption allegations.The charges against Councilmember Price expose the need for greater accountability and transparency in Los Angeles City Hall.Los Angeles Today

Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price has pleaded not guilty to a dozen felony charges, including grand theft by embezzlement of public funds, conflict of interest, and perjury. The 75-year-old, who has served on the City Council since 2013, faces up to 11 years and four months in custody if convicted.

Why it matters

Price's case is the latest in a string of legal troubles for Los Angeles city officials, raising concerns about corruption and transparency in local government. The charges against Price allege a pattern of self-dealing and misuse of public funds, which could further erode public trust if proven true.

The details

Price is accused of failing to disclose money that a company solely owned by his current wife, Delbra Pettice Richardson, received as a subcontractor from developers and public agencies with pending matters before the City Council. He is also accused of embezzling nearly $33,800 in city funds from 2013 to 2017 to pay for medical benefits for Richardson, whom he allegedly falsely claimed was his wife while he was still legally married to Lynn Suzette Price.

  • In December 2023, Price pleaded not guilty to the initial 10 charges.
  • Two more charges were filed against him last year.
  • On January 28, 2026, Superior Court Judge Shelly Torrealba ordered Price to return to court on June 5 for a pretrial hearing.

The players

Curren Price

A 75-year-old Los Angeles City Councilmember who has served since 2013 after time in the Assembly and state Senate. He has pleaded not guilty to a dozen felony charges, including grand theft by embezzlement of public funds, conflict of interest, and perjury.

Delbra Pettice Richardson

Price's current wife, whose company allegedly received undisclosed payments as a subcontractor from developers and public agencies with pending matters before the City Council.

Lynn Suzette Price

Price's former wife, whom he allegedly falsely claimed Delbra Pettice Richardson was while embezzling city funds to pay for her medical benefits.

Michael Schafler

Price's attorney, who has stated that he believes the prosecution's case has 'a lot of gaps, a lot of holes,' and that the defense believes Price 'will be vindicated and exonerated.'

Nathan Hochman

The Los Angeles County District Attorney, who called the judge's ruling 'a significant step toward holding L.A. Councilmember Curren Price accountable for years of alleged corruption.'

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What they’re saying

“The testimony presented during the hearing, including from key witnesses, clearly shows that Councilman Price did not act with any intent to do wrong and that the case rests on speculation rather than facts.”

— Angelina Valencia-Dumarot, Executive director of communications for Councilmember Price

“The rules are clear: elected officials cannot enrich themselves at the expense of their constituents, cannot lie on disclosure forms, and cannot vote on matters in which they have a conflict of interest.”

— Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles County District Attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on June 5 whether to dismiss the charges or allow the case to proceed to trial.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of rooting out corruption in local government, as well as the importance of elected officials upholding the highest standards of transparency and ethical conduct.