LOS ANGELES — A high-level aide to former Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar gave jurors a vivid look at the pay-to-play schemes allegedly pursued by his boss, describing paper bags filled with bribe money and demands for concert tickets and other gifts.
George Esparza, appearing Friday in the first of three trials dealing with the Huizar case, told jurors that he took part in two "money drops" in 2017, picking up cash from a developer's go-between and then delivering the money to the councilman in liquor boxes — all while taking copious notes on his own criminal activities.
Esparza, who worked several years as the councilman's special assistant, said his boss assigned him to find the point person for each real estate developer who had business before Huizar, then hit them up for political donations, hotel stays, event tickets or other benefits.
