Commerce Councilman To Resign In Plea Bargain

COMMERCE (AP) — Los Angeles County prosecutors say a Commerce city councilman has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and must resign his council seat immediately.

The district attorney's office says 49-year-old Hugo Argumedo entered his plea Monday to the misdemeanor count. As part of the plea deal, a felony count of perjury was dismissed.

Argumedo also will be barred from holding public office for the next three years while on probation.

Prosecutors say Argumedo signed a false affidavit as part of a civil lawsuit between the city and former city attorney Francisco Leal. The affidavit was filed by Leal in an attempt to defend allegations he failed to pay a settlement owed to the city in a contract dispute.

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