In 2006, a prominent southern California mayor was sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison and ordered to pay over three-quarters of a million dollars in restitution.  The mayor was convicted of some 20 public corruption-related charges.

He served as mayor for seven terms before being found guilty of honest services fraud and other crimes relating to having steered city contracts to companies he and his family members were involved in. 

The mayor’s sister, who also was involved with the company, was sentenced to six years in prison.  His friend was sentenced to 10 years in prison.