Crime & Safety

Rosemead's Ex-Mayor Pleads Not Guilty to New Charges

The also a former El Monte Union High School District, John Tran, pleaded not guilty today to newly filed federal extortion and witness tampering charges.

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A former mayor of Rosemead, who last year withdrew his guilty plea to a charge of accepting bribes while he was on the City Council, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to newly filed federal extortion and witness tampering charges.

John Tran, 37, is charged in a superseding indictment in Los Angeles federal court with bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, extortion, attempted witness tampering and making false statements, according to the document.

Tran's attorney, Michael Zweiback, successfully argued last December before U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer that key background information about the chief witness in the case was not disclosed to the defense prior to Tran's plea. The judge allowed Tran to withdraw his plea.

According to prosecutors, a property developer made a series of payments to Tran, who first approached the developer at Rosemead City Hall. The developer made cash payments totaling $7,000 in 2005 and 2006, and the developer's business partner wrote a $3,200 check to Tran in 2007, court documents allege.

After the payments were made, Tran was voted out of office, and the city never approved the project, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Tran was elected to the Rosemead City Council in 2005 and was mayor of the San Gabriel Valley city from 2007 to 2009. He is also a former El Monte Union High School District board member and onetime Assembly candidate.

Trial is set for June 25.

- City News Service

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