Autry/Sugerman, thoughts that make you go hmmmm.

This was posted in the recent past.

City Hall Lobbyist...

Sugerman Communications Group

This public relations firm is headed by Steve Sugerman, a former communications aide to Mayor Richard Riordan. Mr. Sugarman therefore once worked with Robin Kramer, Riordan’s former Chief of Staff. Ms. Kramer is now the Chief Staff to Mayor Villaraigosa.

Public information suggests Mr. Sugerman was put on the Autry payroll as a consultant in early 2005. Sugerman’s most notorious claim to fame was he pled guilty to three counts of federal wire fraud as part of the Fleishman-Hillard overbilling scandal at the Water and Power Department. By pleading guilty to these felonies, Sugerman avoided jail after testifying against his supervisors who were sentenced to jail upon their conviction. Sugerman confessed to knowingly submitting falsified invoices to DWP. His employer later repaid $ 6 million to the City of Los Angeles, a portion of which Sugerman was responsible for. For his cooperation, Sugerman was sentenced last year to three years probation.

So, a confessed liar and convicted felon was hired by Autry as its public relations and City hall lobbyist. CEO John Gray likely asked Mr. Sugerman to use his contacts at City Hall, the Los Angeles Times and Daily News, and his “talents” to spin the deferred maintenance problems of the Southwest Museum as making the building unusable.

More lies and tales of deceit in the weeks to come..........

****This on file with the Ethics Commission****

Autry paid $18,000 to the Sugerman Group in the fourth quarter of 2007.