Prison Terms Urged for 2 in Capitol Sting

Federal prosecutors say former state Assembly aide Tyrone Netters should be sentenced to five years and three months in prison and former lobbyist Darryl Freeman to three years.

The two were convicted in October by a U.S. District Court jury of corruption charges relating to the FBI Capitol sting. They are scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 14 by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton.

Netters, a former aide to Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) was found guilty of nine charges, including racketeering, extortion and money-laundering, for accepting $14,700 for his help on legislation in 1986 and 1988.

Freeman, who introduced an FBI undercover agent to Netters, was convicted of conspiracy and aiding in an extortion.

The prosecutors’ sentencing recommendation filed with the court this week says Netters committed “flagrant perjury” during the trial and Freeman lied to the jury.

Filed with the recommendation was a declaration from a deputy state attorney general stating there was no record that Netters had contacted his office in 1986 to report a bribe offer, as Netters had testified.

Prosecutors also claimed that Netters attempted to use the power of his legislative position to join a partnership vying for a cable television construction contract in 1984.

When Netters and another would-be partner were told they each would have to invest $50,000 to join the partnership, they produced a letter from Freeman stating that his firm, Superior Valley Small Business Development Corp., had provided the two a $100,000 loan guarantee, prosecutors’ documents show.

Marion Woods, former director of the state Department of Social Services, who said he was part of the investment group, said in a declaration that he learned the money had not been placed in a bank account.

Woods also said Netters pledged Woods’ home as collateral for the $100,000 loan without his consent.

“At that point I told Netters that I was not interested in going forward with any transaction with him,” Woods wrote.

Neither Netters nor his attorney, George Walker of San Francisco, could be reached for comment. Freeman’s lawyer, E. Richard Walker, also could not be reached.