DATE=12/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242981
TITLE=FUNDRAISER SENTENCED
BYLINE=MIKE O'SULLIVAN
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A DEMOCRATIC PARTY FUND-RAISER, JOHNNY CHUNG, HAS BEEN
SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS OF PROBATION FOR MAKING ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS. (HE WAS ALSO SENTENCED TO THREE-THOUSAND HOURS OF
VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY-SERVICE WORK.) AS MIKE O'SULLIVAN REPORTS
FROM LOS ANGELES, CHUNG AVOIDED A PRISON SENTENCE BY COOPERATING
WITH PROSECUTORS.
TEXT: JOHNNY CHUNG WAS ONE OF SEVERAL CHINESE-AMERICANS INDICTED
ON CHARGES OF MAKING OR ARRANGING CONTRIBUTIONS TO DEMOCRATIC
PARTY CAMPAIGNS IN VIOLATION OF U-S ELECTION LAWS.
THE LOS ANGELES BUSINESSMAN ADMITTED IN MARCH THAT HE MADE AN
ILLEGAL 20-THOUSAND-DOLLAR CONTRIBUTION TO THE 1996 CLINTON-GORE
REELECTION CAMPAIGN. HE ALSO ADMITTED MAKING AN ILLEGAL
EIGHT-THOUSAND-DOLLAR CONTRIBUTION TO THE CAMPAIGN OF DEMOCRATIC
SENATOR JOHN KERRY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINING A
LOAN FOR HIS CALIFORNIA HOME.
BETWEEN 1994 AND 1996, CHUNG DONATED NEARLY 400-THOUSAND DOLLARS
TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. THE MONEY WAS RETURNED AFTER QUESTIONS
WERE RAISED ABOUT ITS LEGALITY.
CHUNG ADMITTED HE FUNNELED THE CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH WHAT ARE
CALLED "STRAW DONORS," TO CONCEAL THE SOURCE OF THE FUNDS. BUT
U-S DISTRICT COURT JUDGE MANUEL REAL EXPRESSED SKEPTICISM AT A
LETTER FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, WHICH CLAIMED THAT
CHUNG CONCEALED THE SOURCE OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PARTY
OFFICIALS.
/// REST OPT ///
THE FUNDRAISER COULD HAVE FACED UP TO 34-YEARS IN PRISON.
PROSECUTORS RECOMMENDED PROBATION BECAUSE THEY SAID HE COOPERATED
WITH THEIR TWO-YEAR INVESTIGATION OF ILLEGAL POLITICAL
FUNDRAISING.
OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM, JOHNNY CHUNG EXPRESSED RELIEF.
/// CHUNG ACT ///
I AM VERY TIRED, BUT THANK GOD IT IS OVER.
/// END ACT ///
JOHNNY CHUNG'S LAWYER SAID WAS PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE
CASE, AND CALLED THE SENTENCE FAIR. (SIGNED)
NEB/MOS/ENE/WTW
14-Dec-98 8:14 PM EST (0114 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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