Remember that dirt plot in Koreatown that advertised a forthcoming hotel called the Emhurst? (Get in the Curbed time machine and travel back to 2008 if the details are a little fuzzy. There was even a ground-breaking!) Today, the Los Angeles Times reports that the Emhurst developer has been charged with money laundering related to donations to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Councilman Jack Weiss. That's unfortunate. Both Villaraigosa and Weiss were unaware of the shadiness, according to reps for the two men. More how this all went down: "Prosecutors for Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley contend that developer Alexander Hugh, 62, worked with Annette Lee, 44, to have employees at Lee’s escrow company give donations of $1,000 or more to the campaigns of Villaraigosa and Weiss, who was then running for city attorney. Hugh then reimbursed the employees with cash, an illegal practice known as “campaign money laundering,' the indictment said." Also, the pair never actually built that Emhurst hotel, but you already knew that.
· Developer indicted in connection with alleged illegal campaign contributions to Villaraigosa, ex-councilman [LAT]
· CurbedWire: Koreatown's Emhurst Hotel Sign Gathers Dust, Casino Bus Complaints [Curbed LA]
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