U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Former Rep. Tucker’s Conviction

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld the conviction of former Rep. Walter R. Tucker III (D-Compton), who is completing a 27-month prison term for extortion and income tax fraud.

Tucker, who was recently released to a halfway house in the Los Angeles area, was convicted by a federal court jury of extorting $30,000 from a businessman while serving as mayor of Compton in 1991 and 1992.

In his appeal, Tucker had contended that the evidence to support his conviction was insufficient, that he was illegally entrapped and that the trial judge erred by not sentencing him to community service instead of prison.