STATE : Sen. Montoya’s Racketeering, Extortion, Bribery Trial Begins
Joseph Montoya, chairman of the state Senate’s Business and Professions Committee, went on trial today on federal charges of bribery, extortion, racketeering and money laundering.
The El Monte Democrat, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused of a dozen felony counts which carry penalties of more than $3 million in fines and 220 years in prison. He is the first person to be tried as a result of the FBI’s 4-year-old investigation of alleged corruption at the California Capitol in which FBI agents posed as businessmen and dispensed cash to lawmakers in return for official favors.
Several prospective jurors said today that they are familiar with the case from news accounts or discussions with co-workers or family. Most said they had not formed an opinion of the case and could be impartial.
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