A Federal Grand Jury has added extortion and witness tampering the slew of charges against a former 49th Assembly District candidate accused of accepting bribes.
John Tran withdrew his promise of a guilty plea in the federal corruption case in December and faces 115 years in federal prison if convicted, the Pasadena Star-News reported. Had he accepted the plea bargain offered him, Tran would have had a 10-year sentence.
"Extortion is a powerful word," Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Akrotirianakis told the newspaper. "But this is a case about extortion, witness tampering and obstruction of justice. It is much more serious."
