The former general manager of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum pleaded guilty Wednesday to one conflict-of-interest charge in an indictment that alleges mismanagement of the historic stadium.
Patrick Lynch entered the plea Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. He agreed to pay $385,000 in restitution.
Lynch, another former Coliseum executive, two rave promoters and two contractors were named in a 29-count grand jury indictment alleging schemes involving bribery, embezzlement, conspiracy and conflict of interest.
Lynch pleaded guilty to only one of six felony counts against him. He will not be formally sentenced until three other defendants are tried, but he is expected to serve 1,500 hours of community service and possibly pay additional fines.
The indictment alleged Lynch had a lucrative side deal with a maintenance services provider. He was arrested last week with Reza Gerami, owner of rave promoter Go Ventures Inc.; and former Coliseum events manager Todd DeStefano. Pasquale Rotella, the founder of rave promoter Insomniac Events, turned himself in the next day.
The Coliseum Commission -- the body that represents city, county and state Coliseum stakeholders -- sued Lynch and DeStefano in November, alleging that they mismanaged funds and diverted money for their own use. But DeStefano's attorneys claim he was just doing what the Commission wanted.
DeStefano and Lynch both resigned after conflict of interest allegations involving companies that did business with the Coliseum.
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