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
.