LA Councilmember Curren Price Pleads Not Guilty in $1M Scandal

Prosecutors allege Price funneled funds to wife's firm, covered her health insurance on taxpayer dime.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 10:42pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a stack of cash and financial documents, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the financial misconduct at the heart of the corruption case.The harsh lighting and dramatic close-up of financial documents in this image conceptually illustrate the corruption allegations swirling around LA Councilmember Curren Price.Los Angeles Today

Embattled Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price pleaded not guilty on Friday to 12 felony counts, including grand theft by embezzlement, conflict of interest, and perjury. Prosecutors say Price repeatedly voted on city business involving his wife Delbra Pettice Richardson's real-estate consultancy, which allegedly received over $950,000 from 2019-2021 while seeking work with the city, with the financial ties never disclosed. They also accuse Price of improperly using $33,800 in city funds to cover Richardson's medical benefits.

Why it matters

The case against Price is the latest in a string of high-profile corruption scandals involving Los Angeles City Councilmembers in recent years, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in City Hall.

The details

Prosecutors allege Price repeatedly voted on city business involving his wife Delbra Pettice Richardson's real-estate consultancy, Del Richardson & Associates, Inc., which provides relocation assistance and community-outreach services for developers and public agencies. Richardson's firm allegedly received more than $950,000 between 2019 and 2021 from developers, the LA Housing Authority, and LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority while seeking work with the city. Prosecutors say those financial ties were never disclosed on required state filings. 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.

  • Price pleaded not guilty on Friday, April 11, 2026.
  • Price is due back in court on June 5, 2026 for a pretrial hearing.

The players

Curren Price

A longtime Los Angeles City Councilmember who has been accused of funneling nearly $1 million to his wife's consulting firm and improperly using city funds to cover her health insurance.

Delbra Pettice Richardson

Price's wife, who owns the real-estate consultancy Del Richardson & Associates, Inc. that allegedly received over $950,000 from 2019-2021 while seeking work with the city.

Nathan Hochman

The Los Angeles County District Attorney who called the case 'a significant step toward holding Curren Price accountable for years of alleged corruption.'

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What they’re saying

“This case is a significant step toward holding Curren Price accountable for years of alleged corruption.”

— Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles County District Attorney

What’s next

Price is due back in court on June 5, 2026 for a pretrial hearing, where a judge will decide whether to allow him out on bail.

The takeaway

The corruption case against Councilmember Curren Price is the latest in a troubling pattern of alleged misconduct by Los Angeles City officials, underscoring the need for greater transparency and accountability in City Hall.