LOS ANGELES : Grocers Group to Pay Fine for Illegal Contributions

The Mexican-American Grocers Assn. has agreed to pay a $9,000 fine for secretly funneling eight campaign contributions to two City Council members in 1991, it was learned Tuesday.

The city Ethics Commission is expected to ratify the agreement at its meeting Thursday.

Steven A. Soto, president of the association, signed an agreement Feb. 8 acknowledging that his group violated city law by reimbursing seven of its employees and associates for the $500 contributions each gave to Councilman Richard Alatorre and for the $500 contribution one gave to Councilman Mike Hernandez.

Under the city’s campaign finance reform laws, it is illegal to contribute more than $500 per election to a City Council candidate.

Soto could not be reached for comment. No wrongdoing by the lawmakers was alleged in the agreement, signed also by Ethics Commission Executive Director Ben Bycel. Bycel had no comment.

In recent months, Bell Cab Co., Evergreen America Corp. and the Los Angeles Marathon have agreed to pay large fines for engaging in money-laundering schemes. In addition, former Councilman Art Snyder and others in his law firm currently face criminal charges that they directed clients with business at City Hall to make illegal, secret contributions to lawmakers.