Bribery is a serious criminal charge under the California and Federal criminal laws.

Under California Law:

Every person who gives or offers any bribe to any executive officer in this state, with intent to influence him in respect to any act, decision, vote, opinion, or other proceeding as such officer, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three or four years, and is disqualified from holding any office in this state.

Further, every executive or ministerial officer, employee, or appointee of the State of California, a county or city therein, who asks, receives, or agrees to receive, any bribe, upon any agreement or understanding that his or her vote, opinion, or action upon any matter then pending, or that may be brought before him or her in his or her official capacity, shall be influenced thereby, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years and, in cases in which no bribe has been actually received, by a restitution fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) or not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Under Federal law, bribery is a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 201. If convicted of the charge, a defendant faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Relevant code sections

California Penal code 67,
California Penal code 67.5
California Penal code 68
18 USC §201

Ginny Walia is a California criminal defense attorney who can represent you for federal bribery charges or California bribery charges.