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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Holding a Criminal Term UNITED STATES OF AMERICA V. TED GIOVANNY LOZA , Defendant. CRIMINAL NO.
09-226(PLF) . VIOLATION: 18 U.S.C. § 201(b)(2)(A) INDICTMENTThe Grand Jury charges that: At all times material to this Indictment: Introduction1. Defendant TED GIOVANNY LOZA ("LOZA") was employed by the District of Columbia as chief of staff for a member of the Council of the District of Columbia ("Public Official No. I "). LOZA has worked for Public Official No. 1 since on or about May 1b,1998, 2. Public Official No. I was the chair of the Council of the District of Columbia's Committee on Public Works and Transportation. That committee had direct oversight and regulatory authority over the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission specifically and taxicab issues generally, 3. As part of his official duties as chief of staff for Public Official Number 1, LOZA performed the following acts among others: (a) LOZA was the head of Public Official Number 1's office and exercised supervisory authority over a staff of approximately eleven full- and part-time employees; (b) LOZA was an advisor to Public Official Number 1 on District of Columbia legislative matters, including matters related to the regulation of the taxicab industry in Washington, D.C.; (c) LOZA helped promote legislation, including legislation and policies governing the taxicab industry in Washington, D.C.; (d) LOZA interacted with city officials and employees and discussed legislation with them including legislation and policies governing the taxicab industry in Washington, D.C.; (e) LOZA interacted with private citizens and discussed legislation with them, including legislation and policies governing the taxicab industry in Washington, D.C.; 4. Staffer Number 1 was employed by the District of Columbia as a staff employee for Public Official Number 1, Staffer Number l assisted Public Official Number 1 in promoting legislation governing the taxicab industry in Washington, D.C. Taxicab Legislation in the District of Columbia5. In July 2008, a moratorium on the issuance of multi-car taxicab company licenses was enacted by the Council of the District of Columbia. Given this moratorium, new taxicab company licenses may not be issued, rendering taxicab company licenses a valuable commodity. An individual with financial interests in the taxicab industry ("Individual Number 1") has engaged in repeated and longstanding corrupt efforts to limit the number of taxicab company licenses issued in the District of Columbia and to create an exemption to that limitation. Individual Number 1 first sought the enactment of the moratorium on the issuance of taxicab company licences. Later, in cooperation with Individual Number 2, Individual Number I sought the adoption of an exception (under the guise of an allowance for the issuance of licenses for companies using environmentally friendly or "hybrid" vehicles) to that moratorium, 6. As part of Individual Number 1's efforts to secure advantages in the taxicab industry in the District of Columbia, Individual Number 1 provided a stream of things of value to LOZA, including, but not limited to, cash, the use of vehicles, and trips. In return for that stream of things of value, LOZA performed official acts in his capacity as Public Official Number 1's chief of staff, including, but not limited to, promoting legislation favorable to Individual Number 1's personal financial interest and the financial interests of Individual Number 1's associates. COUNT ONE7. The allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 6 of this Indictment are incorporated by reference as if set out in full. 8. On or about June 19, 2009, at approximately 12:00 p.m., within the District of Columbia, LOZA met with Individual Number 1 and had the following conversation:
9. On or about June 19, 2009, in the District of Columbia, defendant LOZA, while working as a public official in the District of Columbia, corruptly demanded, sought, received, accepted, and agreed to receive something of value, that is $1,000 from Individual Number 1 in return for and with the intent of being influenced in the performance of an official act, that is, defendant LOZA agreed to promote legislation and policies related to taxicabs that were favorable to Individual Number 1's personal interests and the interests of Individual Number 1's associates. (Receipt of a Bribe by a Public Official, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 20 1 (b)(2)(A)) COUNT TWO10. The allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 6 of this Indictment are incorporated by reference as if set out in full, 11. On June 29, 2009, within the District of Columbia, Individual Number 1 met with LOZA and Public Official Number 1. During the meeting they discussed legislation creating an exemption to the moratorium on the issuance of taxicab company licenses that Individual Number 1 had sought. Public Official Number 1 declared that he would introduce that legislation, and, on or about June 30, 2009, he introduced that legislation. 12. On or about July 10, 2009, within the District of Columbia, Individual Number I met with LOZA. Upon meeting Individual Number 1, LOZA handed him a copy of the taxicab legislation that Public Official Number 1 had introduced on or about June 30, 2009. During the meeting they had the following conversation:
* * * 13. On or about July 10, 2009, in the District of Columbia, defendant LOZA, while working as a public official in the District of Columbia, corruptly demanded, sought, received, accepted, and agreed to receive something of value, that is $500 from Individual Number 1 in return for and with the intent of being influenced in the performance of an official act, that is, defendant LOZA agreed to promote legislation and policies related to taxicabs that were favorable to Individual Number l's personal interests and the interests of Individual Number 1's associates. (Receipt of a Bribe by a Public Official, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 20 1 (b)(2)(A)) A TRUE BILL [Signature] FOREPERSON Channing P. Phillips |
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