The Los Angeles County district attorney's office confirmed in late September 2009 that it was investigating Wright based on the possibility that Wright incorrectly reported his legal address of residence when he sought his state senate seat in 2008. When Wright registered to vote on March 14, 2007, he listed his address as being a four-plex in Inglewood. The issue of residency was a campaign issue in the heavily-contested June 2008 primary election. The residencies of contender Mervyn Dymally and Wright were questioned because both of them owned homes in the district as well as in more affluent areas outside of the district. At that time, when questioned about where he lived, Wright told a local newspaper, "It wasn't like I switched last week to be eligible. I've owned the house for years. It's a kind of nonissue." Registration documents were filed under penalty of perjury, which is a felony. The charges against Wright were thrown out in March 2011 by a California Superior Court judge for being improperly filed, but reinstated by the California 2nd District Court of Appeals in July. Wright once more faced all eight charges: two counts of perjury, one count of filing a false declaration of candidacy and five counts of voting fraud. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. A prejury trial against Wright began on January 2, 2014, in Los Angeles. Wright’s lawyer, Kevin Winston McKesson, disputed the charges when contacted by media sources on December 30, 2013. “He’s complied with all the residency requirements as required by law,” McKesson said, adding that Wright had “multiple places that he owns, which the code allows.” Wright was convicted on all eight counts on January 28, 2014. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail and a lifetime ban from holding public office. He was not automatically removed from his current position, however. He resigned from his position on September 22, 2014, following his conviction and sentencing. On March 28, 2014, Wright was suspended from the chamber by a 28-1 vote along with fellow Sens. Ronald S. Calderon (D) and Leland Yee (D). On November 21, 2018, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) pardoned Wright. In 2018, Brown signed SB 1250, changing residency rules and rendering Wright's ownership of multiple homes and living situation legal.