Despite Orange County’s reputation as placid, decently governed place, it has been racked by corruption scandals that have upended that image. The latest news: A federal judge last month sentenced political consultant and former OC Democratic Party executive Melahat Rafiei to six months in prison and ordered her to pay a $10,000 fine for attempted wire fraud.

Per the U.S. Department of Justice, she “also admitted in court documents that she agreed to bribe two members of the Irvine City Council—both on cannabis-related matters.” Political corruption isn’t that unusual anywhere, but the case is tied to one of the biggest corruption scandals in the county’s history.

After prosecutors secured that plea, Rafiei became a key witness in the case against disgraced former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu, who pleaded guilty to federal charges related to his effort to secure a $1-million campaign contribution allegedly in exchange for providing confidential information as part of the city’s failed effort to sell Angel Stadium.

Rafiei was originally arrested for offering to a cannabis company the possibility of bribing Irvine council members to gain support for allowing such stores to operate in the city, although no charges were filed in that case—and no allegations were made against any council members. Her wire-fraud conviction was based on her misrepresentation to the cannabis company about her lobbying fees.

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Federal prosecutors had hoped that Rafiei would receive only probation given her help recording conversations for the government. But Judge Fernando Aenlle-Rocha was having none of it: “Conduct like hers threatens public trust.” Rafiei supporters were shocked she received a longer sentence than Sidhu. Meanwhile, former Anaheim Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Ament is awaiting sentencing for his role in the Anaheim scandal.

We’re pleased to see the justice system take these cases seriously. There is no simple fix for such scandals, but excess government intervention in private business draws corrupt actors for obvious reasons. Anaheim and the county have tried to implement reforms to clean up local government, but reducing government meddling, vigilance and oversight remain the keys.