Leland Yee
By Paul Elias
Associated Press
A California state senator who was lauded for his efforts to make government more transparent was arrested March 26 during a series of raids by the FBI in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area, authorities said.
Federal officials are accusing a California State Senator State Leland Yee of conspiracy to deal firearms and wire fraud.
The allegations were outlined in an FBI affidavit in support of a criminal complaint against Yee and 25 other people.
Also named in the affidavit is Raymond Chow, who is also known as “Shrimp Boy,” and was the former leader of a Chinese criminal organization with ties to Hong Kong. Chow is accused of money laundering, conspiracy to receive and transport stolen property, and conspiracy to traffic contraband cigarettes.
The FBI searched Yee’s office and the offices of Ghee Kung Tong, a fraternal organization in San Francisco’s Chinatown that Chow reportedly headed. Firefighters were seen going inside with a circular saw and later said they had cracked a safe. (end)