Consultant Agrees to Plead Guilty to RICO Offense Related to Bribery Scheme that Enriched L.A. City Councilmember and Associates

LOS ANGELES – A real estate development consultant has agreed to plead guilty to a federal racketeering offense for participating in a wide-ranging “pay-to-play” scheme in which developers bribed public officials – including a member of the Los Angeles City Council – to secure official acts that would benefit their projects.

George Chiang, 41, of Granada Hills, agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute.

Chiang was charged with participating in the RICO conspiracy in a criminal information filed today in United States District Court. In conjunction with the charging document, federal prosecutors also filed a plea agreement in which Chiang agreed to fully cooperate in the government’s ongoing investigation into political corruption in the City of Los Angeles.

In the court documents, Chiang admitted that he participated in a criminal enterprise called the Council District A Enterprise (CD-A Enterprise). The enterprise was led by a member of the Los Angeles City Council and involved individuals engaged in a course of conduct – including bribery and honest services fraud – designed to enrich themselves, to conceal their activities from authorities and the public, and to maintain and advance their political power.

The public officials involved in the CD-A Enterprise received cash; consulting and retainer fees; political contributions; tickets to concerts, shows, and sporting events; and other gifts in exchange for affecting the success of development projects.

In early 2014, Chiang was a real estate broker who was recruited by “Individual 1” – a longtime employee of the City of Los Angeles, who eventually became the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development – to be a consultant who would interface with Chinese companies that were developing real estate projects in Los Angeles, according to court documents.

As he started providing consulting services, Chiang became a close political ally of “Councilmember A,” who was a member of the Planning and Land Use Management Committee and member of the Economic Development Committee, according to court documents. Chiang also became a close ally of Councilmember A’s special assistant. Through these relationships, Chiang developed a business relationship with Justin Jangwoo Kim, a fundraiser for Councilmember A. Kim previously agreed to plead guilty to a bribery offense involving Councilmember A and the special assistant.

“Members and associates of the CD-A Enterprise conspired with one another to facilitate bribery schemes that would provide Councilmember A and other City officials financial benefits and keep members in power to maintain the CD-A Enterprise’s political stronghold in the City,” according to Chiang’s plea agreement. “In exchange, Councilmember A, Individual 1, and members and associates of the CD-A Enterprise, would take official action to ensure certain development projects and CD-A Enterprise associates received favored treatment from the City and thereby secure their bribe-financed influence. In addition, members and associates of the CD-A Enterprise sought political contributions from developers and their proxies (e.g., lobbyists, consultants, etc.) to benefit Councilmember A and his allies in exchange for official acts to benefit those developers and their proxies, including defendant Chiang.”

Chiang’s plea agreement contains a 22-page “factual basis” that details certain activities of the CD-A criminal enterprise. According to the factual basis, Councilmember A accepted bribes from “Company D,” a China-based real estate development company, which employed Chiang as a consultant. Among other things, Company D funneled $66,000 to an associate of Councilmember A and pledged $100,000 to a political action committee to benefit a relative of Councilmember A running for the CD-A seat on the City Council. In exchange, Councilmember A filed motions and voted to approve Company D’s “Project D” at City hearings.

In addition, Chiang agreed to pay Individual 1 a share of the lucrative consulting proceeds he received from Company D in exchange for Individual 1 shepherding Project D through the approval process in Individual 1’s capacity as Deputy Mayor, according to the plea agreement’s factual basis. Individual 1 directly and indirectly accepted more than $100,000 from Chiang for assisting in obtaining approvals for Project D, including by exerting pressure on other City officials who could influence the project’s success, according to court documents.

The court has not scheduled a date for Chiang to enter his guilty plea. Once he does formally enter the guilty plea, he will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

The case against Chiang is part of an ongoing public corruption investigation being conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Chiang is the third person to agree to plead guilty to a federal felony related to this ongoing investigation. In addition to Kim, former Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitchell Englander has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of scheming to falsify material facts related to his cover up of cash payments and other gifts offered from a Los Angeles businessperson. Kim is scheduled to enter his guilty plea on June 3, and Englander is set to plead guilty on June 4.

Any member of the public who has information related to this or any other public corruption matter in the City of Los Angeles is encouraged to send information to the FBI’s email tip line at pctips-losangeles@fbi.gov or to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.

The case against Chiang is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mack E. Jenkins, Chief of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Veronica Dragalin of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section.

We Couldn’t Even Make This Up: Chinese Dem Senator Was Just Arrested For Gun Running
WesternJournalism.com ^ | March 27, 2014 | B. Christopher Agee / Posted by lbryce

Many leftist politicians who want to strip Americans of their Second Amendment rights say their position is based on concern for the safety of citizens. Somehow, they contend, forcing law-abiding gun-owners to give up their weapons will result in street gangs following suit. According to a recently unsealed affidavit, however, one state senator in California allegedly wanted to curtail gun rights for everyone except violent gangsters. State Sen. Leland Yee, the court documents state, was the subject of an FBI raid that led to his arrest Wednesday along with 25 other individuals.

Among those arrested was Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow, a well-known Chinese gang leaderThough Chow claimed he left his criminal behavior in the past after his 2003 release from prison, evidence indicates he was merely putting a legitimate face on his new illegal behavior.

He now faces charges of money laundering and a number of conspiracy charges. The purportedly reformed crime boss has been praised in recent years by a number of California politicos for his public appearances working with troubled kids. All the while, however, reports indicate he was still deeply involved in his prior activities. (Excerpt) Read more at westernjournalism.com

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US Sen Dianne Feinstein (Dimwit-Calif) released the following statement WRT Democrat State Senator Leland Yee's arrest for terrorist gun trafficking: “The allegations against Senator Yee are shocking. It has become clear he has lost the confidence of his colleagues and for the good of his constituents should step down.”

Huh? She's shocked? More like sap-happy Di/Fi's doing a quick CYA before all the dirt comes out.
INCONVENIENT FACTOID: Di's hubby made millions doing deals in China.
Did M/M Di/Fi get any help from Yee? From Shrimp Boy Chow? Campaign donations, maybe?

This is Shrimp Boy Chow who was arrested in connection w/ Yee's terrorist arms trafficing plot.
THE DI SUCKUP Di/Fi honored Chow as a "community role model" at the same time Chow was running a criminal enterprise.

===================================================

SNIP --- The 137-page FBI complaint against state Sen Leland Yee and his criminal conspirators, has many twists reminiscent of the movie "American Hustle".......

EDITED--Leland Yee, a progressive Democrat (born in China), built his political fortune partly through Chinatown connections and had never lost a race until his failed bid for San Francisco mayor in 2011. A few years before Yee's political journey, gangster Shrimp Boy Chow's own political star began rising. Around 2008, he began meeting with at-risk youth to talk with kids about how to stay on the straight and narrow, said Rudy Corpuz Jr, executive director of the youth-led violence prevention organization United Playaz. "He wasn't just the average guy on the street corner when he had that life, he was somebody you wouldn't mess with. And he's little so people were like, 'Damn, that little guy had that much power?" said Corpuz Jr., who said Chow's "redemption" story helped change hundreds of young lives for the good.

Soon, politicians weighed in to suckup ethnic campaign contributions and votes---the political recognition and awards to criminal; Chow started coming. Shrimp Boy was lauded by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California for his work as a former offender who had become a community role model, and praised by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee for his "willingness to give back to the community." He posted pictures of himself on Facebook with Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. And while Finestein was singing his praises, Chow was running a criminal operation, according to court documents. (NOTE At the same time Di was in thick w/ the tong gang, DI's hubby was making millions doing deals in China).

Then several years ago, undercover FBI agents assigned to Chow infiltrated his criminal organization, and ultimately snared Sen Leland Yee and Lee's campaign consultant Keith Jackson. All three were arrested Wednesday during a series of raids in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area that also netted additional members of the Chinese tong gang.

THE INEVITABLE ETHNIC SOLIDARITY KICKS IN--" This (terrorist) trafficing kind of flies in the face of what he has told me," said Lee's fellow countryman, Millbrae Mayor Wayne Lee, a Yee protege. "He's always been a champion for the downtrodden. I am hoping that he will be vindicated."

Yee is free on $500,000 bail; Chow was denied bail because he was deemed a flight risk and a danger to the public. Jackson was denied bail, too. "The Yee/Chow a very active criminal enterprise, and we won't see this one very busy for the near future," agent Chinn said.

SOURCE http://news.yahoo.com/fbi-sting-shows-san-francisco-chinatown-underworld- 201940947.html;_ylt=ApxPaunTvdK5uNNlNpX_9FbQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTBsbzR0bHJyBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHNlYwNzcg--

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CIRCA 2014----DI/FI KNOWS WHAT'S COMING HER WAY Feinstein (Dimwit-CA), Chairman of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, recently accused the CIA of secretly examining her committee’s computers and taking documents relating to the CIA’s interrogation methods on terror suspects......

Then the Leland Yee terrorist arms trafficking story broke---connecting Finestein w/ Democrat Sen Yee and his criminal associates.

EVER WONDER HOW DUMB ISSA WAS? Issa Rips CIA Over Feinstein Spying Allegations: 'Treason'
breitbart | 3/12/14 | Kerry Picket / FR Posted by Nachum

House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa said he is incensed about allegations the CIA spied on the Senate Intelligence Committee, calling it “treason.”

“I think Senator Feinstein is as outraged as anyone and I share her outrage. I think the violation of the Constitutional separation of powers should be an offense of the highest level—virtually treason,” Issa told Breitbart News on Tuesday.

“Spying on the executive branch—spying on Congress or violating the separation of powers as to the Supreme Court or as to Congress is effectively treason. Treason—it’s written up in the Constitution,” Issa said of Feinstein’s revelations.

....adding, “I don’t know who gave the orders, but to spy on other branches is in fact a constitutional violation at the level of high crimes and misdemeanors and certainly should cause the removal of anyone involved.” more at breitbart.com ...

Duh.

Feinstein Wants Obama to Pull a Clinton on Firearm Importation
NRA-ILA ^ | March 21, 2014

Posted on Saturday, March 22, 2014 10:25:41 AM by Jim Robinson

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), sponsor of the federal “assault weapon” and “large” magazine “ban” of 1994-2004, is asking President Barack Obama to direct the BATFE to reinterpret a provision of the Gun Control Act of 1968 to prohibit the importation of various semi-automatic firearms and their parts.

In a letter to Obama, the text of which was included in an article published by the Daily Caller on Thursday, Feinstein said that, “at a minimum,” the BATFE should:

prohibit importation of all semiautomatic rifles that can accept, or be readily converted to accept, a large capacity ammunition magazine of more than 10 rounds . . . . prohibit semiautomatic rifles with fixed magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, prohibit the importation of the frame or receiver of any prohibited rifle . . . . prohibit the practice of importing assault rifles in parts …. prohibit the use of a “thumbhole” stock . . . . and prohibit the importation of assault pistols.

Though Feinstein failed to gain approval of legislation she introduced in Congress last year, which would have imposed the biggest gun ban in American history, she has reason to believe that she could achieve some of her ends through the president’s use of his executive authority. In the 1990s, Feinstein urged then-President Bill Clinton to direct the then-BATF to restrict the importation of semi-automatic rifles, and Clinton agreed. With the White House saying “we’re taking the law and bending it as far as we can to capture a whole new class of guns,” the BATF prohibited the importation of semi-automatic rifles capable of using standard magazines holding over 10 rounds.

In its report on its 1998 action, the BATF attempted to justify its decision on the grounds that Feinstein’s 1994 law had banned...

(Excerpt) Read more at nraila.org ...

YEE-—cont

BOOM! Anti-Gun Democrat Arrested for Trafficking Guns
The Gateway Pundit ^ | 3/26/14 | JohnHoft / Posted by Nachum
Senator Yee had made repeated attempts to outlaw popular semi-automatic rifles, and his most recent effort, SB 374, was vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown last year. Yee had vowed to reintroduce the legislation again in 2014, but will likely be more concerned about finding a good defense lawyer instead.

The LA Times reported: Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment against state Sen. Leland Yee in court Wednesday, accusing him of conspiring to commit wire fraud and traffic firearms. In all, 26 people, including former school board president Keith Jackson, were indicted on charges related to an extensive crime ring headed by well-known Chinatown figure Raymond Chow, who was also arrested and charged Wednesday.

The indictment alleges Yee and Jackson defrauded “citizens of honest services” and were involved in a scheme to traffic firearms in exchange for thousands in campaign donations to the senator. Federal prosecutors also allege Yee agreed to perform official acts in exchange for the money, including one instance in which he introduced a businessman to state legislators who had significant influence over pending medical marijuana legislation.

In exchange, the businessman — who was actually an undercover FBI agent — agreed to donate thousands to Yee’s campaign fund, according to the indictment. The indictment also describes an August 2013 exchange in which Jackson told an undercover officer that Yee had an arms trafficking contact. Jackson allegedly said Yee could facilitate a meeting for a donation. (Excerpt) Read more at thegatewaypundit.com ...

Is Democrat Leland Yee a Full-Blown Gun-Runner for Russians and Islamic Terrorists?
Pajamas Media ^ | 03/27/2014 | Bryan Preston / Posted by SeekAndFind

San Francisco Magazine has published highlights of the indictment against Democrat California Sen. Leland Yee. Yee is currently running for California secretary of state, a post from which it now appears that he intended to wage strategic guerrilla warfare until he went off the grid to fight for Islamic rebels himself.

Yee told an FBI agent to give him a shopping list of guns: “Senator Yee asked [the agent] to provide an inventory list of desired weapons [...] [The agent] told Yee he would deliver $2,000,000 cash.”

Yee could arrange from some serious firepower: “[The agent] asked about shoulder fired automatic weapons. Senator Yee responded by saying the automatic weapons are the equivalent to the ‘M16’ Automatic Service Weapon [...] [The agent] asked about the availability of shoulder fire missiles or rockets. Senator Yee responded ‘I told him about the rockets and things like that.’”

Yee took personal responsibility for delivering the weapons: ”Senator Yee said, ‘We’re interested’ in arranging the weapons deal’ [...] and said of the arms dealer, ‘He’s going to rely on me, because ultimately it’s going to be me.’ [The agent] stated he would compensate Yee for brokering the relationship and arms deal.”

Yee was in it for the cash: “Senator Yee said, ‘Do I think we can make some money? I think we can make some money. Do I think we can get the good? I think we can get the goods.’”

Yee masterminded a complex scheme to import illegal weapons: “Keith Jackson [a political consultant who worked as Yee’s fundraiser] told [an agent] that Senator Yee had a contact who deals in arms trafficking. This purported arms dealer was later identified. Jackson requested [a campaign donation] on behalf of Senator Yee, for Senator Yee to facilitate a meeting with arms dealer with the intent of [the agent] to purportedly purchase a large number of weapons to be imported through the Port of Newark, New Jersey. During a meeting [...] Senator Yee discussed certain details of the specific types of weapons [the agent] was interested in buying and importing.”

Yee had connection with Filipino rebel groups: ”Keith Jackson advised that Senator Yee had an unidentified Filipino associate who was supplying ‘heavy’ weapons to rebel groups in the Philippines.”

Just ponder that one for a few seconds. Yee has tried to disarm Americans. Behind the scenes he claims that he is arming rebel groups in the Philippines. Which rebel groups? You’ll see on the next page.

These rebel groups:

Including Muslim terrorists: “According to Senator Yee, Mindanao was largely population by Muslim rebel groups who were fighting the federal government. Yee continued by saying the Muslim rebels had no problem ‘kidnapping individuals, killing individuals, and extorting them for ransom.’”

And yet he wanted to arm them, while disarming law-abiding Americans.

In specific the Moro Islamic Liberation Front: “[The agent] asked about the major Muslim organizations in the Mindanao region of the Philippines. Senator Yee responded by saying ‘M.I.L.F.’”

Yee apparently wasn’t making up his arms dealer. It’s a real person. A real Russian person.

And, Russian arms dealers: “According to Senator Yee, the arms dealer source the weapons from Russia.”

Well. Surely having an elected official working on illegal deals with Russian arms dealers to arm Islamic terrorists trying to overthrow a government allied to the United States at a time when Russia is causing global — sorry, regional — problems, isn’t a big problem…?

And neither is this?

Yee yearned for a different life: “Senator Yee stated he was unhappy with his life and said, ‘There is a part of me that wants to be like you [...] Just be a free agent out there.’ Senator Yee told [the agent] that he wanted to hide out in the Philippines.” This is extraordinary. It’s at this point in the story that the media will go out of their way not to ask any other Democrats what they knew about Yee and whether they have a culture of corruption.

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