Former Lynwood City Councilman Sentenced to Probation, Community Service in Theft Case

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COMPTON (CNS) - A former Lynwood city councilman who pleaded guilty to grand theft was ordered today to perform 1,250 hours of community service and to pay nearly $50,000 in restitution to the city.

Compton Superior Court Judge Eleanor Hunter also placed Arturo Reyes, 62, on probation for five years.

Reyes pleaded guilty to the felony charge in September 2008 and his sentencing had been pending until after two other former Lynwood city councilmen, Louis Byrd and Fernando Pedroza, were tried.

Byrd, 80, and Pedroza, 47, were both convicted in July of one count each of misappropriation of public funds and were sentenced to four years in state prison.

Byrd was ordered Nov. 20 to pay $456,586 in restitution to the city of Lynwood, while Pedroza was ordered to pay $180,918. The two were on the city council when they were charged in April 2007 along with Reyes.

Byrd, then the city's mayor, and Pedroza were recalled in September 2007 in an election prompted by the corruption allegations.

The case stemmed from a four-year investigation into the council's handling of public funds that was launched after Faustino Gonzales, who had been placed on leave as Lynwood city manager, approached the District Attorney's Office and met with the head deputy of the District Attorney's Public Integrity Division.

From City News Service

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