Leland Yee’s Federal Corruption Trial Fast-Tracked for Early Next Year

A federal judge has “fast-tracked” Leland Yee’s federal corruption trial, involving numerous racketeering charges, to begin early next year.

Yee, a former California state senator, has been charged with fraud, corruption, racketeering, and bribery, among other charges, with at least 28 other defendants.

The  federal racketeering charge stems from a federal investigation that lasted 3 years. When Yee, campaign consultant Keith Jackson, and an undercover agent met again in June 2013, “Yee discussed his upcoming vote on AB1309 [workers comp law] and represented that he controlled two votes on the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee and that his vote was critical,” the indictment says. Yee allegedly agreed to take $60,000, which he believed came from a National Football League team owner, in exchange for his and another senator’s vote dealing with awarding workers compensation to football players in California. Although the money never changed hands, the racketeering indictment alleges that Yee conspired to take the money, and accepted bribes on other occasions.

Yee was arrested by the FBI on March 26th after a five-year federal investigation into potential campaign corruption. According to the 137-page federal indictment, Yee has been accused of wire fraud for accepting bribes from undercover agents in an attempt to sway legislation, including medical marijuana legislation. In one instance, which was caught on tape, Yee accepted a $10,000 bribe, and attempted to get more money from the undercover federal agent, saying he had campaign debts to pay off.

The former state senator has also been accused of gun running, although he has always been pro-gun control legislation. Yee’s gun trafficking went through notorious San Francisco Chinatown gangster Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow, who is a co-defendant.

Yee has pleaded not guilty to all of his federal charges.

“I’m not going to let it play out in some multi-year, decade-long tableau,” U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said on Wednesday, November 12th. Although he has not yet set a firm date for the beginning of the trial, Judge Breyer was clear that he wanted to begin the federal corruption trial as soon as possible.

The judge’s decision could also put pressure on Yee and the other defendants to decide whether to cut a plea deal with federal prosecutors, or proceed with a jury trial.

Federal Corruption Charges in South Carolina

Our firm provides extensive experience representing clients in major criminal cases and investigations involving wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and RICO violations. While we strive to resolve matters discreetly through aggressive negotiation, our South Carolina federal corruption charges attorneys will not hesitate to take your case to trial.

Our Columbia, SC federal corruption and criminal defense lawyers handle cases involving:

• Fraudulent insurance claims
• Bond issuances and investment schemes
• Falsifying loan applications
• Check fraud schemes
• Bribes or kickbacks
• False advertising or misrepresentation in sales transactions
• Murder or murder-for-hire,
• the transportation and distribution of drugs,
• gambling,
• embezzlement,
• extortion,
• theft/armed robbery,
• money laundering, and
• bribery
• Other RICO violations

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Federal Corruption Charges

Being arrested or investigated for federal corruption charges, including bribery, wire fraud, and extortion, can be very stressful. However, just because you are under a great deal of pressure does not mean that you are automatically guilty, or that you have no rights in court. For experienced RICO and federal criminal charges defense attorneys who will fight for your rights and work to have your charges reduced or even dismissed, contact the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, today. We offer free, confidential consultations so that you can discuss the facts of your case with impunity, in a safe environment. Do not hesitate to contact us. 803.252.4800.