The Region - News from Feb. 4, 1986

Long Beach City Councilman James Wilson pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles federal court to charges of taking $53,500 from public corruption figure W. Patrick Moriarty. Wilson, 57, is accused of taking the money in exchange for supporting legalization in Long Beach of the “safe-and-sane” fireworks sold by Moriarty’s Red Devil Fireworks Co. As Wilson pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of mail fraud in connection with the alleged bribe-taking, his lawyer, Terry Amdur, said his client was merely a consultant to one of Moriarty’s companies and had been a proponent of safe fireworks before ever meeting Moriarty. U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie set an April 8 trial date.