Aug. 05--REPORTING FROM SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee was among several politicians and community leaders singled out in court papers Tuesday as having alleged roles in public corruption plots and bribery schemes.
The accusations were detailed in a motion filed by attorneys for Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow.
An infamous Chinatown figure who was charged in 2014 with money laundering and trafficking in illegal cigarettes -- part of a corruption probe that ensnared state Sen. Leland Yee -- Chow and his lawyers have accused the U.S. attorney's office of launching a "politically tainted" and "selective" prosecution while ignoring misdeeds by elected officials and their associates.
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Lee, according to court papers filed by Chow's legal team, "took substantial bribes in exchange for favors." A staffer for the Human Rights Commission and a former commissioner appointed by Lee handled the bribery and campaign finance laundering schemes, according to the defense motion.
In one excerpt of conversations documented by the FBI and included in the court filings, Zula Jones, a staff member of the Human Rights Commission, explained the modus operandi as such: "You pay to play here."
Jones could not be reached for comment. A spokesman for Lee's reelection campaign denied the allegations made by Chow and his attorneys.
"While it appears others may have tried to engage or ensnare Mayor Lee, and any number of other people, in their own wrongdoing, there's absolutely nothing in today's filing by Raymond Chow's attorneys that suggests that Mayor Lee himself or his 2011 campaign did anything wrong or inappropriate," P.J. Johnston said. "Mayor Lee's campaign is committed to following the letter and spirit of all campaign finance laws."
Chow's attorneys, including Bay Area trial lawyer J. Tony Serra, filed the motion in a bid to have all charges against their client dismissed. If the dismissal isn't granted, Chow's lawyers are proposing an alternative: To have all records surrounding the decision to investigate Chow disclosed as pretrial discovery.
Federal prosecutors long pursued Chow, who had faced 27 years in federal lockup after an earlier probe. He was released in 2003, after just seven years, for agreeing to testify against his criminal gang boss, who had fled the country.
In their legal filing, Chow's attorneys contend federal prosecutors intent on putting him away again engaged in efforts to ensnare him.
Yet Chow had said he had turned around, pivoting from a life of crime to one marked by legitimate businesses and community work.
One of those above-board endeavors was sharing his biography on an episode of the History Channel show "Gangland," in which he boldly declared; "I run this city."
Such a proclamation stoked the ire of federal authorities, Chow's attorneys alleged in the motion filed Tuesday, and prompted a retaliatory prosecution.
"This was an affront to the city, an insult to San Francisco politicians. His attitude was cavalier and at times brash, and defense contends that discovery, if necessary, will reveal a systematic attempt to entrap and selectively prosecute Mr. Chow because of his past criminal activity as replayed time and time again on 'Gangland,'" according to court papers.
Chow's attorneys also allege that while Lee and other politicians were "cosponsoring anti-bullying campaigns" and "hosting Batman in Gotham City to help one child, it was Chow who was the real life super hero."
Born in Hong Kong in 1960, Chow came to the United States at age 16. His grandmother, according to documents and law enforcement sources, gave him the nickname "Shrimp Boy" in part because of his small stature.
This article will be updated.
Romney reported from San Francisco; Hamilton, from Los Angeles.
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