Longtime East Valley lawmaker Ben Arredondo will be sentenced in January after pleading guilty Friday to two felony charges in federal court.
State Rep. Arredondo, D-Tempe, who was indicted in May, was caught in a sting involving FBI undercover agents who said they represented a company that wanted to develop real estate projects in Tempe, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice. The department reports Arredondo’s actions took place while he was first a city councilman in Tempe and then a state representative.
On Friday, Arredondo, 65, pleaded guilty to one count each of honest services mail fraud and mail fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison with each charge and could be fined. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 22.
The release states that Arredondo accepted tickets to sporting events, and tables at charity events, with tickets sent to his home. In exchange, Arredondo agreed to use his influence to gain support for the fictitious company and its project.
“Arredondo took the bribe with the intent to be influenced in the performance of his official duties, first as a councilmember and later as an elected member of the Arizona House of Representatives,” the U.S. Justice of Department release said. “During his plea, Arredondo admitted that from February 2009 to November 2010, he solicited and accepted things of value, collectively a bribe, from representatives of ‘Company A.’”
During his plea, Arredondo also revealed that some monies given to a scholarship fund he set up were used by family members, which was not revealed to donors.
A call to Arredondo’s attorney was not immediately returned.
Arredondo was elected to District 17 in November 2010 following about 16 years as a Tempe councilman.
Sen. David Schapira, D-Tempe, told the Tribune that he expected Arredondo to “no longer be a state representative” by the end of Friday.
Several officials at the state House of Representatives said they expected his resignation as well.
At that point, Schapira said, precinct members will sit down to discuss who could fill Arredondo’s seat for the next three months. Their nominations will go before the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors for final decision.
“The important thing to highlight is our district has been represented by somebody who has been distracted by a serious court case for some time. I called on him to resign when the indictments first came out. Sadly, our constituents in District 17 have been shortchanged,” Schapira said.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6549 or mreese@evtrib.com
chuckles3 posted at 2:17 pm on Fri, Oct 5, 2012.
Might be useful info to know his party affiliation-but since it wasn't in the headline I will go out on a limb here and say he is a Democrat.
truncate posted at 3:32 pm on Fri, Oct 5, 2012.
Dem and Repub politicians that take bribes should be in prision! Too bad the same standard can't be applied to the Fiesta Bowl crooks! Hey chuckles, you would have seen he was a Dem if you had read beyond the headline...
Exgop2006 posted at 5:38 pm on Fri, Oct 5, 2012.
FYI, Arredondo was a Republican throughout his tenure in Tempe and as a County Supervisor. He just switched in 2010 to Democrat.[smile]
hadenough posted at 6:13 pm on Fri, Oct 5, 2012.
Will Tempe keep "P. Ben Arredondo" Park? Will Council Member Robin Arredondo tell the public what her involvement was in the case that led to her uncle's indictment and conviction on public corruption charges? Robin also met with the undercover FBI agents that busted her Uncle Ben.
retired03 posted at 7:09 am on Sat, Oct 6, 2012.
well chuckles, I really don't think it makes a difference. If you bothered at all to do only a little research, you would find it happens to both poliitcal party's all to often. But, thats what people who put very little thought into there comments do, just slobber all over themselves, and make ignorant statements
Deddzone posted at 10:54 am on Sat, Oct 6, 2012.
Both parties are always going to have corrupt members. Therefore, they both must be kept honest and voted out or go to court and find out the truth.
tededitedit posted at 3:13 pm on Sat, Oct 6, 2012.
Guilty pleas to felonies, Fiesta Bowl scandal involvement, and now scholarship fund monies used by family members? There are many Arredondo extended family members with jobs in education leadership and local government. Yikes! There's gonna be quite a ripple effect now the perceived clout will go away.