Former USC Dean Sentenced To 18 Months Home Confinement For Role In Ridley-Thomas Bribery Scandal

Former University of Southern California Dean of Social Work, Marilyn Flynn, was sentenced to 18 months of home confinement on Tuesday for her central role in the bribery scandal of former Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, narrowly avoiding prison due in part to her advanced age.

The case against Ridley-Thomas, who has served as a Los Angeles City Councilman, Assemblyman, state Senator, and LA County Supervisor at different times between 1991 and 2022, dates back to the mid 2010s. According to the indictment, Ridley-Thomas gave $100,000 to the USC School of Social Work through his political campaign fund. In turn, the school’s dean, Marilyn Flynn, sent the money to a think tank run by his son, Sebastian Ridley-Thomas. His son, who was a state Assemblyman from 2013 until 2017 when he resigned after sexual harassment allegations came to light, was to get benefits from USC, such as a graduate school admission and a scholarship, in exchange for the elder Ridley-Thomas to support contracts between the County and USC.

In addition to Ridley-Thomas, Flynn has also been alleged to have been a part of other bribery scandals, including giving then Congresswoman and current LA Mayor Karen Bass a $95,000 scholarship in exchange for helping pass legislation for more federal funding.

While the other bribery allegations have yet to progress, the Ridley-Thomas case continued to progress. In March, Ridley-Thomas was found guilty, with sentencing expected to be handed down on August 14th. Meanwhile, Flynn, who had previously pled guilty to one count of bribery in September 2022 and admitted that the way the bribery was made was an attempt to hide that the money had come from Ridley-Thomas, awaited her own sentencing. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer handed down his ruling, placing Flynn under home confinement for 18 months.

Under the terms of the sentencing, Flynn, who is 84 years old, is not to leave her residence for any reason except for medical, legal, or court-appointed reasons. In addition, Flynn will also be on three years of probation and ordered to pay $150,000.

Flynn’s lawyers had originally argued for a simple probation term, and after the sentencing, asked for her to be able to leave home during the day. However Judge Fischer said no to both requests, citing her crimes and the need to deter future instances of briber. At one point, Fischer even noted that he had almost given Flynn a prison sentence and blatantly asked if she would rather go to prison instead.

“I seriously considered imprisonment,” said Fisher. “I take it she prefers not to go to prison.” The defense confirmed this, dropping any more attempts at a lighter sentence.

Former Dean sentenced to 18 months home confinement

Fisher also noted that Flynn had destroyed any positive legacy with her actions, saying that “It is unfortunate that such an illustrious career has come to an end this way.”

This sentiment was echoed by the defense and prosecutors alike.

“She made a mistake,” remarked defense attorney Brian Hennigan said. “Her friends vanished and people stopped talking to her. This is a career of 40-plus years. Now that’s tarnished and the record is blemished.”

Flynn herself added that “I’m really greatly embarrassed, obviously, to be here today. I hope you understand that I deeply regret the consequences of my actions, my lapse in care. I think I would never imagine that in a career of 50 years, the culmination point would be a judgment of wrongdoing. I lament the distress this caused to the university and the constituents in the School of Social Work.”

Legal experts noted to the Globe on Tuesday that, despite many seeing the sentencing as lenient, her advanced age kept her from serving any major time, with her real punishment being that her legacy is now completely destroyed.

“She may have avoided jail, but to people like her in academia and public service, she lost big time,” Los Angeles law researcher Jill Rodriguez told the Globe on Tuesday. “She was in academia for over five decades and served as a prominent Dean. Had she flown straight, she would be looking at wings of buildings being named after her, busts being commissioned of her, scholarships being offered in her name, and many other things that would have assured that her name be known for for future generations.

“Well, it will be, but in a negative light. She’s a criminal who was involved in bribery with public officials. She said she regrets it, but she still did it. Any hope of a positive legacy is gone, and unlike some who were in similar circumstances, she’s alive to see it go away. That’s her real punishment here. She’ll forever be remembered as, in general terms, a bad person. That sort of thing just wrecks most people. And from how she acted in court, it definitely happened to her. She now gets to sit at home and see it dissipate even more.”

Ridley-Thomas is to face sentencing next, with a date set for August 14th.