| |||||||
|
Lawyers for man accused of raising fake army say group was a charity
David Deng of El Monte is accused of running an immigration scam in which he recruited paying Chinese immigrants to a sham special forces unit.
But lawyers for Deng say he modeled the group on the Salvation Army.
David Deng enters Los Angeles Superior Court in Pomona for his arraignment Wednesday. The arraignment was postponed till next month, and a bail hearing was set for Friday. Deng is accused of recruiting Chinese immigrants to a phony special forces unit. (Gina Ferazzi, Los Angeles Times / April 14, 2011) |
David Deng, 51, appeared in a Pomona courtroom Wednesday, shackled and wearing jail-issued clothing — a far cry from the smart military-type uniform he wore as the "supreme commander" of the U.S. Army/Military Special Forces Reserve. His arraignment was postponed to May 2, and a bail hearing was set for Friday, when his attorney said he'll argue for a reduction in his client's $500,000 bail.
"That is an outrageous amount for these type of charges," said Darren Cornforth, one of David Deng's attorneys. "I don't believe he is a flight risk or danger to the community."
David Deng's lawyers said their client was a businessman in China who came to the U.S. about 10 years ago to seek political asylum from religious persecution.
"He is an immigrant who came here to pursue his American dream," said Daniel Deng, his other lawyer. The two are not related.
David Deng decided to do some volunteer work in America and started his organization in 2008, his attorney said.
"At the advice of his attorney, he set up a nonprofit, hoping to imitate the Salvation Army and other groups to show support to our military," Daniel Deng said. "He thought it's a good way to show his patriotism and gratitude to his new motherland."
Prosecutors, though, say David Deng's group was a scam that preyed on Chinese immigrants in the San Gabriel Valley who believed joining would improve their chances of attaining U.S. citizenship.
"I just want to cry," said David Deng's wife, Lisa, outside the courtroom. "We really didn't expect something like this."
David Deng is charged with theft by false pretenses, manufacturing deceptive government documents and counterfeiting an official government seal, according the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
Man recruited fake army in immigration scam, prosecutors say
David Deng is accused of running a fraudulent military recruitment center in Temple City, where he charged Chinese nationals
a fee to join a "special forces reserve" unit that he said would help their chances of becoming U.S. citizens.
Authorities say David Deng, shown with his recruits, charged members $300 to $450 to join plus an annual $120 fee. He told them that joining the group would increase their chances of becoming U.S. citizens, according to court papers. (FBI) |
No comments:
Post a Comment