Ethics Commission fines Hugh the maximum

Alexander Hugh, the Koreatown developer nabbed for illegally contributing reelect Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2009, was fined $183,750 by the city's Ethics Commission this morning. The commission determined that Hugh laundered $1,000 checks for 18 campaign contributors, in violation of contribution limits. He had previously accompanied the mayor to Asia and received City Council approval of a hotel project. The Ethics Commission also fined Alcion Ventures, a Boston-based private equity firm, $67,000 after finding the company laundered 2009 campaign contributions to Councilman Richard Alarcon, then-Councilman Jack Weiss and candidates Ron Galperin and Chris Essel.

City Hall at night: LA Observed