Posted on 10/11/2008 9:17:35 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
A judge on Friday sentenced onetime Los Angeles city commissioner Leland Wong to five years in state prison, bringing an end to Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley's "pay to play" investigation of the administration of former Mayor James K. Hahn.
Wong, the son of Chinese immigrants who had served in the administrations of three Los Angeles mayors, was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs as his friends and family watched. The San Marino resident was found guilty in July on 14 felony counts, including bribery, conflict of interest, perjury and embezzlement.
Prosecutors accused Wong of receiving monthly payments of $5,000, deposited into an off-shore bank account, from Evergreen Marine Corp., a Taiwanese shipping firm that was hoping to negotiate a lucrative new lease at the Port of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson called prison an appropriate punishment for an experienced city commissioner who used duplicity to help Evergreen gain "extraordinary access to city officials." Wong, 51, hid his financial relationship with Evergreen from harbor and airport officials and told Evergreen there was nothing unlawful about his actions, the judge said.
"He was engaged in graft and corruption, pure and simple," Johnson said.
Attorney Janet I. Levine, who represents Wong, said her client planned to file an appeal of his conviction and would ask the state Court of Appeal to release him pending that action. Levine also described her client as a giving public servant who deserved probation, not a prison sentence.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Another gone wong
Another gone wong
Or another wong gone
Two Wongs don’t make it right
That is just wong
Someone took a wong turn
no mention of democrat the entire article.
mention is made of his working with riordan and hahn as a “volunteer” commissioner.. he worked in three different mayoral administrations.
“Our Diversity is Our Strength!”
Of course no Dem mentioned, that would be breaking the code of omerta among leftist papers.
“Our Diversity is Our Strength!”
Tell that to a metalurgist and watch him laugh. Tell that to a communist and watch your head roll down the street.
Next up: Perata?
Imagine how long that prosecution would take, including the family members and cohort? damn, that’ll cost a few bucks, but well worth it. ;-)
Yep. A drop in the bucket compared to the damage they cause. Now, if they'd use some of that $700 Billion to prosecute the criminals causing this whole financial crisis, I might just support it... a little... well... maybe not. But you get the idea.
When the rats have the keys to the granaries and the foxes have the keys to the henhouse, what can you expect? lol
W.A.S.S.
Yup!
The only bumper sticker I relate to is the one that says "We're Screwed '08"
She sold out cheap.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.