Released July 25, 2008
Former Los Angeles City Commissioner Leland Wong was convicted yesterday of 14 felony counts including three felony counts of state income tax fraud, the Franchise Tax Board said.
A jury convicted Wong, 51, of:
- One count of Penal Code 68 – Bribery
- One count of Penal Code 118 – Perjury
- Two counts of Government Code 1090 - Conflict of Interest
- Three counts of Revenue and Taxation Code 19705(a) – Filing Fraudulent State Income Tax Returns
- Seven counts of Penal Code 487(a) – Grand Theft
According to court documents, Wong received bribes totaling $100,000. Wong failed to claim any of this illegal money and was convicted of two counts on his 2002 state income tax return and one count on his 2003 state income tax return. All income is taxable including income from illegal sources.
Wong’s sentencing is scheduled for September 25, 2008. Restitution to the FTB of more than $6,000 representing the unpaid tax, penalties, interest, and the cost of the investigation will also be ordered at that time.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson presided over the trial in Department 108 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Max Huntsman prosecuted the case.