Ted LozaTed Loza, a former aide to D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham who pled guilty to a federal charge of accepting an illegal gratuity in February, was sentenced to eight months in prison this afternoon. U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman also sentenced Loza to four months of supervised release and community service. Prosecutors had been seeking a 14-month sentence, the maximum allowed under the law.
Loza’s sentencing is but one of several legal victories obtained by investigators as a result of a federal probe into corruption inside the city’s taxicab industry. Loza was caught on tape accepting packages containing $1,500 and $2,600 (the latter intended for Graham) from FBI informant Abdul Kamus, who he believed was a cab representative seeking the passage of new legislation.
On Monday, Loza, who is 45, apologized to family and friends via email, a copy of which the Washington Post obtained:
I’m well aware that the work in our community has been adversely impacted by my actions. For that, I am sorry. This is a sentiment I have expressed to the hundreds of people I’ve talked to, both in person and on the phone or thru other means. But, please don’t allow yourselves to lose focus by media distraction. This is essentially about two gratuities.
