Former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu made his first public appearance in more than a year on Friday to plead guilty in a federal courtroom in Santa Ana.
Sidhu, 66, pleaded to one count of obstruction of justice, one count of wire fraud, and two counts of making false statements – to the FBI and to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Paul Meyer, Sidhu’s attorney, said in a brief statement after the hearing that “Former Mayor Sidhu appreciates the thorough investigation by the United States Attorneys Office leading to this fair settlement. He deeply regrets these violations.”
Sidhu abruptly resigned in May 2022 when it became public that he was under federal investigation. The FBI probe into public corruption allegations in Anaheim caused the city to embark on a series of reforms since.
Friday’s hearing was largely procedural, with Sidhu acknowledging that he understood the consequences for pleading guilty.
“Yes, I’m guilty,” Sidhu said to Judge John W. Holcomb as the hearing wrapped up.
Holcomb scheduled Sidhu’s sentencing for June 14. The maximum sentence for Sidhu’s offenses is up to 50 years in prison, but his actual sentencing will likely be significantly shorter. The court set Sidhu’s bail at $50,000 and Holcomb ruled Sidhu was not a flight risk.
Sidhu in August agreed in a deal with federal prosecutors to plead guilty. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has already agreed that if the court imposes a prison term of no less than 30 months, it would waive its right to appeal the sentence.
Federal prosecutors’ investigation into Sidhu stemmed in part from the city’s negotiations to sell Angel Stadium to team owner Arte Moreno’s business partnership, where Sidhu provided confidential information to a consultant working for the Angels, according to Sidhu’s signed plea agreement, so that the Angels could buy the stadium on favorable terms.
Sidhu is the latest person to plead guilty in the Anaheim corruption saga. Former Anaheim…
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