ART SNYDER'S CONVICTION UPHELD.Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer The 1997 conviction of former Councilman Art Snyder for laundering political contributions was reinstated Thursday by the state Supreme Court. The court overturned a Court of Appeal ruling that struck down the conviction after attorneys for Snyder argued that he should be exempt from any criminal penalties since money laundering The process of taking the proceeds of criminal activity and making them appear legal. Laundering allows criminals to transform illegally obtained gain into seemingly legitimate funds. was covered by the state administrative code and should involve fines, not jail time. Snyder had been sentenced to six months in jail and a $216,000 fine. ``What's important about this is that it clarifies state law,'' said Deputy Attorney General Mark Nolan  This article or section is written like an .Please help [ rewrite this article] from a neutral point of view. Mark blatant advertising for , using . . ``There are still some other issues to be resolved with Mr. Snyder, but we're pleased with this ruling.'' However, the high court did not deal with another aspect of Snyder's appeal involving allegations his house and office were illegally searched, which left Snyder's attorney with some hope. ``We haven't decided what we're going to do,'' attorney Mark Geragos Mark John Geragos (born October 5 1957) is an American criminal defense attorney best known for defending pop-star Michael Jackson, actress Winona Ryder, Gary Condit, and Susan McDougal, who was involved in the Whitewater scandal. said. ``The way this has developed, we could go to the U.S. Supreme Court or try to knock it down in the Court of Appeal on the search and seizure search and seizure In law enforcement, an exploratory investigation of a premises or a person and the taking into custody of property or an individual in the interest of gaining evidence of unlawful activity or guilt. arguments. We just haven't decided yet.'' Snyder had pleaded guilty to avoid a trial on nine misdemeanor counts involving laundering and conspiracy to launder Launder To move illegally acquired cash through financial systems so that it appears to be legally acquired. contributions between March 1990 and May 1992. He was alleged to have used 60 different people to make more than $218,000 in contributions in 220 cases. The charges stemmed from a joint investigation by the city Ethics Commission and the state Fair Political Practices Commission. Snyder, 67, who has undergone a quadruple heart bypass and prostate cancer prostate cancer, cancer originating in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in men. surgery, was an articulate, colorful and controversial member during an 18-year career on the City Council representing East Los Angeles East Los Angeles, uninc. city (1990 pop. 126,379), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles, in an industrial area. It has a large Mexican-American population. There is a performing arts center and a cultural center. A junior college is there. . He later became one of the city's most influential lobbyists until the charges were filed against him. Nolan said officials will have to hear from the Court of Appeal on what action will be taken next. |
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