A crooked lobbyist is not exempt from criminal prosecution for illegal campaign contributions that occurred before Proposition 208 passed in 1996, a unanimous California Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
Los Angeles lawyer and lobbyist Arthur Snyder had pleaded guilty four years ago to eight misdemeanor counts of making donations under a false name. He admitted to funneling $170,000 worth of campaign contributions through friends and his law firm. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge John Ouderkirk sentenced Snyder to six months in jail. But as part of his plea agreement, prosecutors allowed him to appeal his conviction and he remained free pending resolution of his case.
