Former Vernon mayor gets probation, fine in corruption probe

This from the DA’s Office:

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LOS ANGELES – The man who served as Vernon’s mayor for more than a half-century and his wife were sentenced today to probation and ordered to pay more than $600,000 in fines and penalties following their conviction last month for voter fraud and other charges.

Leonis Malburg, 80, was barred from holding any elective office and placed on five years probation and by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson. The judge found the couple guilty Dec. 4 following a court trial. Malburg’s 83-year-old wife, Dominica, was placed on three years probation, said Deputy District Attorneys Max Huntsman and Jonlyn Callahan, who prosecuted the case.

Malburg was ordered to pay a total of $183,800 in fines and penalty assessments and more than $395,000 in restitution to the City of Vernon for salary, benefits and travel for the time he was elected in April 11, 2006. His wife was ordered to pay $36,000 in fines and penalties.

“We’re pleased with the sentence,” Huntsman said. “We hope politicians get the message” that they must live in the district where they’ve been elected to represent and where they are registered to vote.

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Vernon’s first family convicted in voter fraud case

From Sandi Gibbons at the DA’s office:

LOS ANGELES – Leonis Malburg, mayor of Vernon for more than a half-century, and his wife were convicted of voter fraud and other charges today by a judge who ruled after a court trial.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson convicted the elderly couple of all counts but one, in which he found Leonis Malburg not guilty of assisting an unqualified voter – his 40-year-old son, John. The judge said the reason he could not convict Leonis Malburg of the lone count was that there was no evidence that John Malburg actually cast the ballot provided for him by his father.

“This dishonesty and arrogance is hard for me to fathom,” said Johnson after announcing the verdicts. He scheduled sentencing for the couple for Jan. 21, but indicated he was leaning toward heavy fines and not jail time. Leonis Malburg is 80, and his wife, Dominica, is 83. Neither is in custody.

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