Let me guess...
Posted on 03/07/2008 3:43:55 PM PST by BulletBobCo
THORNTON, Colo. (CBS4) ― A well known restaurant owner, who has fed President Bush, senators, governors and mayors, is the target of a federal drug investigation in connection with what Drug Enforcement Administration agents call "a large scale Asian marijuana cultivation organization."
Dan Tang, owner of Heaven Dragon restaurant in Thornton, told CBS4 reporter Brian Maass federal drug agents are "investigating me." But he denied involvement in the pot growing operation. Tang's lawyers, Michael Axt and Gene Ciancio, emphasized that Tang has not been charged with a crime but they declined to make further comment on the case.
According to federal documents, DEA agents arrested seven Asian men last month, including Tang's brother, Yue De Deng, along with one of Tang's cousins and two of his brothers-in-law. All the men were charged with cultivating marijuana. Acting on a tip from an informant, agents had tapped the men's cell phones and had them under surveillance for 5 months. A government affidavit says the ring had purchased numerous single family homes in Thornton, Broomfield, Commerce City and Firestone "in order to grow, harvest and care for marijuana plants."
A search warrant obtained by CBS4 says that an informant told authorities "Dan Tang is the leader of this marijuana organization and provides financial assistance to members to purchase homes ... in return for his investment, Dan Tang receives 30 percent of all profits from the marijuana grow houses that he sponsors. The Dan Tang organization launders drug proceeds through several member owned restaurants located in the Denver metropolitan area and transports bulk currency from the United States to China."
Armed with search warrants, drug agents descended on the homes in mid-February, arresting the men and breaking up what federal authorities describe as "a large Asian marijuana organization." They say they seized anywhere from hundreds, to thousands of marijuana plants from the basement of each of nine homes. At a home in Thornton at 13062 Spruce Place, agents say they found 1,261 marijuana plants in the basement. In Commerce City at 13006 East 106th Place, agents say they discovered 1,547 pot plants in the basement. At another home in Thornton, agents say they seized 2,054 marijuana plants from the basement along with 52 grow lights.
"Are you kidding me?," said neighbor Scott Kopplinger, when told what was found in his neighbor's home. "It's shocking, absolutely shocking," said Kopplinger who said he had "no idea, no clue anything was going on."
Law enforcement authorities say that was the aim. One affidavit says, "Tang will often have elderly couples and females living in the grow houses for the appearance of the houses being occupied. Tang and his associates prefer to purchase new houses with few neighbors to reduce the detection of suspicious activity."
One affidavit in the case, written by DEA Special Agent Michael Marshall, makes it clear authorities were forced to make seizures and arrests sooner than they might have liked. Based on tapped phone calls, "officers learned that some members of the suspect organization were going to dismantle their marijuana grow operations. The members of this organization were concerned that an unknown individual was attempting to extort money from Dan Tang."
Asked why federal authorities connected him to the operation, Tang said "I don't know." He said he knew nothing about the marijuana cultivation, despite the alleged involvement of his brother, three members of his extended family and the detailed account of a confidential informant.
Tang's Thornton restaurant is lined with pictures of him with powerful politicians, many of whom he has fed over the years. There's a photo of him with President Bush, and a letter from Bush lauding Tang. During several trips to Colorado, Tang has personally delivered Chinese food from his restaurant to President Bush. Nearby, there are pictures of Tang with Vice President Cheney and other photos of Tang with former Gov. Bill Owens and Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo.
Tang is a native of China who left the country in 1980 with just a few dollars in his pocket. He has been hailed as an embodiment of the classic American dream, arriving in Colorado, working hard, and eventually owning his own restaurant.
Tang isn't the only owner of a Chinese restaurant connected to the federal investigation. According to federal documents, Tran Van, owner of China Garden Restaurant, 2581 West 120th Avenue, Westminster, sold marijuana out of his restaurant, which is now closed. Agents say last November 9, a "known drug trafficker" bought 11 pounds of marijuana from Van at the Chinese restaurant. Van is one of the seven men arrested by federal authorities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Campbell said at this point, Dan Tang is "merely a suspect ... as a money launderer. I am investigating him," said Campbell, "for money laundering."
The article fails to mention that there are a few photos of Hillary with her praises on the wall as well.
I’m sure it was and I bet the brownies were out of this world too.
Now I know why Chinese food always makes one hungry.
LOL :-)
Let me guess...
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