Former state senator Calderon pleads guilty in corruption case

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Former state Sen. Ron Calderon entered an expected guilty plea in the corruption case against him in court on Tuesday.

Under the agreement, Calderon admitted to several acts of bribery, relating to a scheme to accept money in exchange for legislation.

In court, Calderon agreed there was sufficient evidence to convict him in the scheme to defraud the public.

The indictment said that Calderon took kickbacks from the former owner of Pacific Hospital in Long Beach in exchange for the lawmaker pushing legislation to allow the facility to continue to perform pricey spinal implant surgeries on worker's compensation patients.

Calderon was ultimately caught through an FBI sting in which an agent posing as a movie executive offered him gifts and cash. The monies were funneled through a consultant firm owned by his brother Tom Calderon, who pled guilty last week.

The Democrat represented the 30th Senate District, which includes the communities of Culver City, Montebello, Whittier and others, from 2006 to 2014.

Under the plea deal, prosecutors are recommending a 70-month prison term instead of the potential maximum of 20 years if he had been found guilty on all 24 counts. But the judge in the case noted that was only a guideline.

Sentencing is expected on Sept. 19.