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Tag: California Senator

  • California Sen. Leland Yee Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ To Corruption And Gun Trafficking Charges

    The disgraced California State Senator for District 8 appeared briefly in a San Francisco federal court on Tuesday to plead “not guilty” to federal firearm trafficking and political corruption allegations charged against him.

    The 65-year-old democrat was flanked by a few of his so-called criminal conspirators, which includes Yee’s former political consultant and alleged hit man Keith Jackson, and San Francisco Chinatown street gang member Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow. Jackson also pleaded “not guilty”, while Chow did not enter a plea.

    Chow’s attorney Tony Serra called the federal authorities “agent provocateurs” and claimed that the government fabricated his client’s crime and used entrapment to implicate Chow. A convicted felon, Chow is accused of participating in a money laundering scheme in which he bribed Yee with $6,800 in exchange for a Senate proclamation acknowledging Chow’s alleged illegal enterprise.

    According to prosecutors in Yee’s case, the veteran lawmaker brokered a $2 million firearms deal with the Islamic extremist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF, which is based in the southern region of the Philippines. These weapons were intended to be re-sold to an undercover FBI agent posing as an arms buyer.

    Yee, who is known to support gun control and finance reform in Sacramento, is accused of accepting bribes from various donors to push their agendas in the Senate and other government agencies. As a result, Yee was suspended by his Senate colleagues along with two other Democrats who have also broken the law in recent months.

    Since his arrest on March 26th, Yee has been released on a bond worth $500,000.

    Yee’s indictment was sparked by the FBI’s long-time investigation of the Chinatown social club Chee Kung Tong, which federal agents claim is a hub of illegal activity. As the alleged leader of this social club, Chow is facing charges of several felonies including money laundering, murder-for-hire, drug dealing, and gun running among others.

    Chow is set to enter his plea on April 15th, while Yee is due to return to court on Friday.

    Leland Yee Charged With Firearms Trafficking

    Image via YouTube

  • Leland Yee, California State Senator, Arrested For Bribery And Arms Dealing

    Senator Leland Yee, 65, candidate for California Secretary of State and author of gun control legislation, was apprehended Wednesday during an FBI sweep in the Sacramento and San FranciscoBay area. He was accused of wire fraud and conspiracy to illegally transport firearms, among other crimes.

    The senator represents California’s 8th District, which encompasses San Francisco and a sizeable portion of San Mateo County. He is known for his advocacies of strengthening government transparency and whistleblower protection. Certain bills he previously filed sought a ban on fast reloading of military-style assault weapons and the state study of safe firearm storage.

    Yee was implicated with 25 other individuals including gang leader Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow and Yee’s campaign aide Keith Jackson. The senator is alleged to have abused his office by performing official acts for donations to clear his failed mayoral campaign debt amounting to $70,000. He is also alleged to have accepted campaign contributions in exchange for getting introductions, facilitating contracts, and influencing legislation. His alleged wrongdoing was brought to light by undercover FBI agents.

    The FBI affidavit stated that Yee offered an undercover FBI agent access to weapons worth up to two and a half million, even walking him through the acquisition process from a Muslim separatist group in the Philippines where the senator intended to hide out in November. The undercover agent represented himself as part of Ghee Kung Tong, an association in San Francisco’s Chinese community.

    Yee was released on bail amounting to half a million dollars and is expected to be back in court next week to negotiate the terms of his release. He is the third senator from the Democratic Party to face charges in 2014.  He has been serving in the California Senate since 2006. He was also a member of the California Assembly, and was the first Chinese American to be elected to the California State Senate.

    Yee out on half million dollar bail

    Image via YouTube