Leland Wong convicted on 14 felony corruption counts

Wong, a Hahn appointee and longtime member of the city's volunteer commissions overseeing city contracts, was found guilty on 14 felony counts. He was found not guilty of seven other charges. The district attorney's office said Wong faces a potential sentence of more than 10 years.

The most significant verdict involved the charge that Wong received $100,000 in bribes in a secret Hong Kong account from Ren-Gung Shyu, executive vice president of Taipei-based Evergreen Marine Corp. The payment was an enticement to get the giant Taiwanese shipping line more space at the Port of Los Angeles. In exchange, Wong exerted his influence as a member of the city's airport commission in order to benefit the firm.

"Mr. Wong was corrupt," said Deputy Dist. Atty. Max Huntsman. "I am ecstatic with the jury's decision."

The prosecution, however, failed to win guilty verdicts on counts related to the most titillating aspect of the case. Wong was found not guilty of embezzling money from his former employer, Kaiser Permanente, in order to pay for massages for former Deputy Mayor Troy Edwards at a spa that leases space at the Westin Bonaventure, where, Edwards said, masseuses provided sexual favors.

The prosecution was also unable to prove a conflict-of-interest charge resulting from Wong's vote on an airport contract for concession company W.H. Smith. Prosecutors alleged that he also sought business with Sean Anderson, then W.H. Smith's chief executive.

"We are obviously disappointed that we did not obtain not-guilty verdicts on all counts," said defense attorney Janet I. Levine. "We have not decided whether to appeal but are considering our options."

Wong is a second-generation Chinese American raised in Los Angeles' Chinatown who rose to positions of power. Wong curried enough favor with L.A. mayors Tom Bradley, Richard Riordan and James K. Hahn to serve for nearly 14 continuous years on city panels.

garrett.therolf@latimes.com