Accused State Senator's brother pleads not guilty
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former lawmaker charged in a corruption probe along with his state senator brother has pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles court.
Tom Calderon, brother of Sen. Ron Calderon, appeared in court in handcuffs on Friday and entered the plea to seven counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to launder money.
His bail was set at $25,000. He was ordered to surrender his passport, stay in the continental U.S. and appear for a jury trial starting April 15.
Ron Calderon was charged with accepting $100,000 in bribes, lavish trips and no-show jobs for his children in exchange for pushing legislation to benefit a hospital engaged in billing fraud and a film industry tax scheme that actually was an FBI sting.
