Mark Ridley-Thomas spent decades building one of the most influential political careers in Los Angeles before it came crashing down in federal court.
A Los Angeles native, Ridley-Thomas graduated from Dorsey High School before earning a bachelor’s degree from Immaculate Heart College, a teaching credential from Pepperdine University, and later a doctorate in social ethics from the University of Southern California.
He began his career as a teacher and community activist before entering politics. Ridley-Thomas served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1991 to 2002, then spent 16 years on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, where he became one of the county’s most powerful elected officials. In 2020, he returned to the Los Angeles City Council representing South Los Angeles.
That political career effectively ended after federal prosecutors accused him of trading official influence for benefits to his son.
This week, a federal appeals court upheld Ridley-Thomas’ convictions, rejecting every argument raised by his defense.
Prosecutors proved Ridley-Thomas steered county contracts and other official support to the University of Southern California in exchange for benefits for his son, Sebastian. Those benefits included a paid faculty position, a graduate school scholarship, and financial support for his nonprofit organization.
A federal jury convicted Ridley-Thomas in 2023 on seven felony counts, including conspiracy, bribery, honest services fraud, and tax-related offenses.
He was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison, fined $30,000, and ordered to serve three years of supervised release. He has remained free while appealing the conviction.
With the Ninth Circuit now affirming the verdict, Ridley-Thomas’ remaining legal options are limited to asking the full appeals court to reconsider the case or petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court for review. If those efforts fail, one of Los Angeles’ most influential political careers is expected to end behind bars.
