Thread: Former S.F. supervisor pleads guilty to federal extortion

Former S.F. supervisor pleads guilty to federal extortion, bribery, plans to accuse others
Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, October 10, 2008


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(10-10) 12:54 PDT San Francisco - --

Ed Jew, the former San Francisco supervisor who resigned from office in January after state and federal prosecutors accused him of corruption, pleaded guilty to federal charges this morning.


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Former S.F. supervisor pleads guilty to federal extortion, bribery, plans... 10.10.08

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Jew admitted to mail fraud, extortion and soliciting a bribe in connection with a scheme to shake down Chinese immigrant owners of tapioca drink shops in the Sunset District for $84,000 in bribes.

Jew's attorney said his client believed his actions were legal because that's how he learned to behave in politics. At his sentencing on Feb. 13, Jew is prepared to name others who he says have engaged in similar actions.
Unlike past court appearances, no supporters gathered at the hearing in U.S. District Court. Jew could spend decades in federal prison.

He also still faces state charges alleging that he lied about where he lived to vote and run for office in San Francisco. Prosecutors say Jew lived in Burlingame while he campaigned for and represented District Four in the Sunset. A state court hearing is scheduled later this month.

The admission of guilt in the federal case ends a large part of the saga that began in May 2007, when FBI agents raided Jew's City Hall office, his Chinatown flower shop and two homes searching for the money prosecutors alleged he had taken from the shop owners.

Jew had been in office just six months when the raid happened. A grand jury indicted him 11 months ago, alleging that Jew extorted money from the Quickly tapioca drink chain.

After the planning official told Jew that the chain's stores appeared to be violating a permit ordinance, Jew told the store operators he would help them stay in business in exchange for cash payments of $10,000 for each of the eight businesses, the indictment said.

Following the raid, questions arose about whether Jew lived in the Sunset or with his wife and daughter in Burlingame. The San Francisco District Attorney charged Jew with nine felonies, accusing him of lying about his residency.

He is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 21 to set a trial on those charges, but state prosecutors have said a resolution in the federal case could affect how they proceed.

E-mail Wyatt Buchanan at wbuchanan@sfchronicle.com.


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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... .DTL&tsp=1

Jew's attorney said his client believed his actions were legal because that's how he learned to behave in politics. At his sentencing on Feb. 13, Jew is prepared to name others who he says have engaged in similar actions.

HUH

JEW IS AN IDIOT TO SAY HE THOUGHT TRYING TO EXTORT MONEY FROM SOMEONE IS LEGAL. HOW CAN IT BE LEGAL? WHAT A DUMB THING TO SAY. BUT I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHO HE NAMES.....THAT WILL BE INTERESTING.

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Jew's attorney said his client believed his actions were legal because that's how he learned to behave in politics. At his sentencing on Feb. 13, Jew is prepared to name others who he says have engaged in similar actions.

HUH

That's exactly my thought on that line.