LOS ANGELES : Judge Puts Off Decision on Prosecution of Snyder

Saying he needs more time to consider the case, a judge on Monday put off deciding whether to throw out charges of illegal campaign funding against lobbyist and former Los Angeles City Councilman Arthur K. Snyder.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John Ouderkirk set an April 24 hearing date, when he is expected to announce whether prosecutors can go forward with their case against Snyder, his wife and five other defendants.

Snyder, 62, was indicted Jan. 18 on charges of money-laundering and conspiracy for allegedly filtering $60,000 in campaign contributions through his relatives and associates to government officials.

Prosecutors allege that Snyder circumvented laws limiting the amount of money any one person can contribute to a political campaign in order to gain greater lobbying influence.

Also charged with taking part in the conspiracy are Snyder’s wife, Delia; his law partner, Gil Archuletta; his sister and brother-in-law, Grace and William Wang; Snyder’s assistant, Aide Posadas, and Snyder’s sister-in- law, Blanche Wu. Snyder’s law firm also is charged in the complaint.

Lawyers for the defendants argued last month that there is insufficient evidence to prove their clients guilty of criminal wrongdoing. Prosecutors allege that the goal of the conspiracy was to “improperly buy influence on behalf of Arthur Snyder, his law firm and his lobbying efforts.”