Former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy

          LOS ANGELES – A former deputy mayor and long-time Los Angeles city official was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison for soliciting and accepting more than $750,000 in bribe money for himself and facilitating over $1 million in bribes from property developers to then-Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar as part of a long-running pay-to-play racketeering conspiracy at the highest levels of government in Los Angeles.

          Raymond She Wah Chan, 68, of Monterey Park, was sentenced by United States District Judge John F. Walter, who also ordered him to pay $752,457 in restitution to the City of Los Angeles.

          At the conclusion of a 12-day trial, a jury on March 27 found Chan guilty of all 12 felony counts for which he was charged: one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, seven counts of honest services wire fraud, three counts of federal program bribery, and one count of making false statements to a federal government agency.

          “Chan abused his public office and sought to deepen the corruption of city politics for the benefit of his own business interests,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Today’s sentence sends a message to the public and City Hall alike that our government should not be for sale and those that undermine our democracy through pay-to-play schemes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Today’s sentence serves as a reminder that there are consequences for robbing communities of the honest government services they deserve” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “The harm of public corruption manifests itself not only in financial loss, but also the loss of faith in government and public officials. The FBI will remain laser focused on those who seek to use their personal wealth and influence to facilitate relationships between those willing to pay or accept bribes.”

          Chan served for years as the General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) and, later, as the Deputy Mayor of Economic Development from 2016 to 2017. Chan abused both of these high offices and the influence they carried to enrich himself, Huizar, and other public officials within the city.

          Huizar, 56, of Boyle Heights, represented Council District 14 (CD-14) on the Los Angeles City Council from 2005 until his resignation in October 2020. CD-14 encompassed downtown Los Angeles and some of its surrounding areas. When downtown Los Angeles was experiencing a huge real estate development boom, Huizar chaired the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee, which oversaw all major commercial and residential development projects in the city.

          Along with Huizar, Chan helped conceive, lead, and operate the “CD-14 Enterprise,” a criminal racketeering enterprise that exploited the city approval process for large real estate development projects to exact bribes from developers. Chan played a critical role in guiding and ensuring the CD-14 Enterprise’s success, managing the conspiracy through both the powerful public offices he occupied and the private relationships he held with wealthy foreign developers seeking to build in the city.  Capitalizing on this unique position, Chan steered nearly $2 million in financial benefits to himself, Huizar, and other public officials as part of the pay-to-play bribery scheme.

          In furtherance of the conspiracy, while he was General Manager of LADBS and then Deputy Mayor, Chan established and directed a secret business partnership with real estate development consultant George Chiang, securing a lucrative real estate consulting agreement with Chinese real estate developer Shenzhen Hazens. As part of that agreement, Chan solicited and accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to advise and pressure other city officials, including Huizar, in favor of Hazens’ Luxe Hotel redevelopment project in downtown Los Angeles. When he left city employment, Chan used the consulting business that he had secretly built to direct bribes to other public officials for the benefit of his private consulting clients.  

          To help prolong the pay-to-play bribery scheme, Chan also facilitated a $100,000 campaign contribution commitment from Hazens for Huizar’s wife’s candidacy to succeed Huizar as CD-14 Councilmember in exchange for Huizar’s votes to approve the Luxe Hotel project. Chan also helped facilitate numerous other bribes from Hazens to Huizar, including tens of thousands of dollars in sham real estate consulting fees, concert tickets, China travel expenses, and contributions to Huizar’s 2015 campaign debt and alma mater high school.

          Chan also facilitated payment of nearly $1 million in bribes to Huizar from billionaire developer Wei Huang, 58, of Shenzhen, China, including $600,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit, nearly $200,000 in casino chips, and luxury-laden gambling trips to Las Vegas. Chan similarly facilitated bribes from Huang to George Esparza, Huizar’s special assistant and key associate in the pay-to-play bribery scheme, through casino chips and lavish Las Vegas trips. When Huang provided these bribes, his company, Shen Zhen New World I LLC, was planning to redevelop the downtown L.A. Grand Hotel into the tallest tower west of the Mississippi, which would require city approvals and Huizar’s official assistance.

          Chan played a crucial role in facilitating Huang’s payment of $600,000 for Huizar to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former CD-14 staffer, which threatened Huizar’s 2015 re-election campaign and the continued operation of the CD-14 Enterprise. Chan conceived of and helped carry out an elaborate plan involving a foreign shell company, intermediaries, and fraudulent corporate documents to arrange a sham private loan that shielded the fact of Huang’s involvement in the payment. Chan later lied to FBI agents that he was not involved in the settlement, that Huang had no projects in Huizar’s district needing Huizar’s support, and that Huang had never asked Huizar for help with anything – all of which Chan knew to be false.

Huizar was sentenced on January 26 to 13 years in federal prison and also was ordered to pay $443,905 in restitution to the City of Los Angeles and $38,792 in restitution to the IRS. He pleaded guilty in January 2023 to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of tax evasion. Huizar has been ordered to begin serving his prison sentence no later than October 7.

Hazens’ U.S. subsidiary, Jia Yuan USA Co. Inc., which was seeking to redevelop the Luxe Hotel, has paid $1.05 million to resolve the government’s investigation into its conduct related to this case, which included bribery and illegal campaign contributions.

          Huang, who is charged with several felonies for his bribes to Huizar with Chan’s assistance, fled the United States shortly after the execution of numerous federal search warrants in this case and is considered a fugitive from justice. Huang’s downtown Los Angeles-based company Shen Zhen New World I LLC was convicted in 2022 of eight felonies for – through Huang’s actions as its owner – paying more than $1 million in bribes to Huizar for his critical support for the L.A. Grand Hotel redevelopment project. The company was sentenced to five years of probation, fined $4 million, and ordered to pay the costs of prosecution.

          Relatedly, real estate developer Dae Yong Lee, a.k.a. “David Lee,” 60, of Bel Air, and one of his companies, 940 Hill LLC, were convicted in 2022 of providing $500,000 in cash to Huizar and Esparza in exchange for their help in resolving a labor organization’s appeal of a downtown Los Angeles development project. Lee is serving a six-year federal prison sentence and was fined $750,000. 940 Hill LLC was sentenced to five years’ probation, fined over $1 million, and ordered to pay the costs of prosecution.

          Prosecutors also have secured guilty pleas from Chiang; Esparza; lobbyist Morrie Goldman; and political fundraiser Justin Jangwoo Kim. Each of these defendants cooperated with the government and testified during at least one trial in this case and will be sentenced at upcoming hearings in November.

          The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter.

          Assistant United States Attorney Mack E. Jenkins, Chief of the Criminal Division, and Assistant United States Attorneys Cassie D. Palmer, Susan S. Har, and Brian R. Faerstein of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.

          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 https://tips.fbi.gov or to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.


Star Lawyer Tony Buzbee To Unleash An Epstein-Sized Shockwave Over Sean Diddy Accomplices and Enablers

Tony buzbee lawfuel

The Tony Buzbee Profile

Ben Thomson, LawFuel contributing editor

As if the Hollywood entertainment industry needs more seedy sex shenanigans but Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is set to unleash a torrent of sordid details about vile goings-on, released by high-stakes, higher profile Houston attorney Tony Buzbee.

The allegations against Combs are serious and wide-ranging, including claims of sexual assault, sex trafficking, and other forms of abuse.

In a recent press conference, Buzbee demonstrated his characteristic boldness and determination, warning that Combs is just one of many “powerful people” who will face consequences for alleged sexual assault crimes. 

Buzzbee the complicit bystanders “facilitators of foul play-willing participants in vile conduct” in terms of the role they played in the alleged offences.

And Buzbee is the sort of lawyer who needs to be believed with claims that might sound outrageous because they often are. And he’s there to prove them correct.

On the ‘Diddy’ issue he is representing over 100 alleged victims of the rapper and other figures in the entertainment industry.

“Many Powerful Names Will Be Exposed”

Buzbee announced that his firm is set to file 120 new civil cases against Combs and other high-profile defendants, marking a dramatic expansion of the allegations against the music mogul and his associates.

“The day will come when we will name names, other than Sean Combs, and there’s a lot of names,” Buzbee told a crowded room of reporters.

“It’s a long list already. Because of the nature of this case, we’re going to make damn sure we’re right before we do that,” Buzbee said, adding that some of these names “will shock you.”

Prior to the Buzbee press conference, most people understood that the so-called “freakoffs” began in 2008, but they appear to have gone back as far as the early 1990s.

And the defendants in the civil lawsuits are both individuals, including high profile entertainment and business figures and corporate entities who Buzbee said profited from the culture and behaviour, including banks, hotels and pharmaceutical companies.

Attorney Andrew Van Arsdale of AVAS Law Group said the volume of victims who are coming forward with complaints in a short period of time was unprecedented.

“We represent 1000s of survivors of abuse and never, never in a 10 day period have we seen 3000 people come forward or we have confirmed and decided to investigate 120 people, while we’re continuing to work through another 100 plus cases to prove them up, to validate what had happened here and to hold those who are responsible accountable,” he said.

 Buzbee said victims were more inclined to come out now that Combs was incarcerated, but the fact that they are facing off against one of the most powerful entertainment figures creates a fear of retaliation, moreso because some of the defendants in new cases have ‘cult-like’ fanbases with fans who will do anything to protect their celebrity heroes.

Diddy Denial

Combs has denied all the charges against him. His attorney Erica Wolff called them meritless and that her client was part of a “reckless media circus”

“That said, Mr. Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors. He looks forward to proving his innocent and vindicating himself in court if and when claims are filed and served, where the truth will be established based on evidence, not speculation.”

Key Points from the Buzbee Press Conference

  1. Scope of Allegations: The cases span over 25 years, with the earliest alleged incidents dating back to 1991. This timeline significantly expands the previously assumed period of alleged misconduct.
  2. New Victims: Out of 3,285 individuals who came forward in just ten days, Buzbee’s firm has vetted and decided to represent 120 victims. An additional 100 cases are under investigation.
  3. Victim Demographics: The new plaintiffs include 60 males and 60 females, with 62 percent African American, 30 percent white, and the remainder Hispanic and Asian. Notably, 25 plaintiffs were minors at the time of the alleged incidents.
  4. Geographic Spread: Cases originate from 25 states, with most incidents allegedly occurring in California, New York, Georgia, and Florida.
  5. Nature of Allegations: The claims include sexual abuse of adults and minors, violent sexual assault and rape, facilitated sex with controlled substances, and compelling prostitution.
  6. Corporate Involvement: Buzbee stated that future defendants could include corporate entities such as banks, pharmaceutical companies, and hotels that allegedly profited from or enabled the alleged misconduct.
  7. Promise to Name Names: Buzbee emphasized that his firm will expose enablers and accomplices, stating, “The day will come when we will name names, other than Sean Combs, and there’s a lot of names.”
  8. Thorough Vetting Process: The legal team is carefully collecting evidence, including photos, videos, dates, times, and witness identifications to ensure the legitimacy of each case.

The Civil Claims

This case represents a significant challenge in mass tort litigation, involving multiple high-profile defendants and spanning over two decades.

The involvement of corporate entities and the potential for exposing industry-wide misconduct adds layers of complexity to an already intricate legal battle.

Buzbee’s approach of meticulous vetting and evidence gathering before filing suits sets a high standard for handling sensitive, high-profile cases involving numerous plaintiffs.

His strategy of incrementally naming defendants as cases are filed demonstrates a cautious yet determined legal approach.

As the case progresses, it may lead to broader discussions about statute of limitations in sexual abuse cases, the responsibility of corporations in preventing and reporting misconduct, and the challenges of prosecuting historical sexual abuse claims.

Combs was arrested for sex trafficking and racketeering lastmonth.

The Tony Buzbee Story

With a reputation for handling high-stakes litigation, Buzbee is exactly the lawyer who would not shy away from representing alleged victims of Seah Didd Combs, or what he calls “enablers” and “bystanders” associated with the alleged illegal activities.

Buzbee’s approach to the case typifies his strategic legal mind and his commitment to pursuing justice, regardless of the status of those involved.

His firm, the Buzbee Firm, is known for its thorough vetting process, with the lawyer emphasizing the importance of corroborating evidence and witness testimony before moving forward with claims1

From Marine to Legal Powerhouse

Buzbee’s journey to legal stardom is anything but conventional. Born and raised in the small town of Atlanta, East Texas, his work ethic was forged in the crucible of a working-class family.

After high school, he joined the Marine Corps, serving as an Infantry Officer and learning valuable lessons in leadership and tenacity that would later define his legal career.

“The Marines taught me that no challenge is insurmountable,” he said in an interview. “It’s a mindset I bring into every courtroom.”

After his military service, Buzbee set his sights on law school, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center. It wasn’t long before he founded The Buzbee Law Firm, and began assembling a catalog of success cases, often headline-making cases that made him a celebrity figure in his home state and beyond.

Taking on Everyone From Big Oil to Hollywood

Buzbee’s firm has secured billions in verdicts and settlements, but it’s not just about the money for Buzbee.

One of his most notable early victories came against BP, where he secured a $41 million verdict for workers injured in the Texas City refinery explosion.

The case not only showcased Buzbee’s legal acumen but also his commitment to workplace safety and corporate accountability.

Fast forward to 2024, and Buzbee finds himself at the center of another high-profile battle, this time in the entertainment industry.

“These cases are about more than just compensation,” Buzbee explains. “They’re about giving a voice to the voiceless and holding the powerful accountable, regardless of their fame or fortune.”

The Sean Diddy Combs case could not be more significant in terms of exposing the darkest underbelly of the enablers Buzbee is prepared to expose. The risks – and rewards – are high.

The Buzbee Approach: Aggressive Advocacy and Media Savvy

What sets Buzbee apart in high-stakes cases like Diddy Combs is his unique blend of aggressive litigation tactics and media savvy. He’s known for his “Buzbee blitz” – overwhelming opponents with resources and tenacity while also leveraging media attention to shape public opinion.

In the Combs cases, Buzbee has been strategic in his public statements, balancing the need to protect his clients’ privacy with the importance of bringing these allegations to light. His approach has garnered both praise and criticism, but there’s no denying its effectiveness in keeping these issues in the public eye.

“I believe in using every tool at our disposal to fight for our clients,” Buzbee states. “Sometimes that means battling it out in the courtroom, and sometimes it means making sure the public understands what’s really at stake.”

Beyond the Courtroom: A Multifaceted Career

While his legal career takes center stage, Buzbee is far from one-dimensional. He’s made forays into politics, including a run for Houston mayor in 2019. He’s also built a substantial real estate portfolio, owning everything from historic mansions to luxury high-rises.

He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of trial lawyers and frequently speaks at law schools and legal conferences, sharing his insights on everything from courtroom strategy to the importance of personal branding in the legal industry.

“Success in this field isn’t just about knowing the law,” he advises young lawyers. “It’s about understanding people, being willing to take calculated risks, and never backing down from a fight you believe in.”

The Future of Personal Injury Law

His cases against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and other high-profile defendants are likely to have far-reaching implications, not just for the individuals involved, but for how society addresses issues of power, accountability, and justice.

Whether you’re a fan of his methods or a critic of his high-profile approach, there’s no denying that Tony Buzbee has left an indelible mark on the legal profession.

But his current case may be the one that cements his position as a major enabler himself: as one of the tough litigators prepared to go the extra mile to achieve justice even when he is facing-off against some of the most powerful names in business and entertainment.

Epstein set the template for the ongoing sex scandals and conspiracies. But the Diddy files may take even that sordid chapter of America’s modern history a few steps further.

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