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Restauranter Pleads Guilty To Money Laundering

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Nov 20, 2009 1:16 pm US/Mountain

Restauranter Pleads Guilty To Money Laundering

DENVER (CBS4) ― The owner of a popular Thornton restaurant has pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with a massive Asian marijuana cultivation operation.

Dan Tang, 47, owner of Heaven Dragon restaurant, appeared in federal court Friday morning. He admitted guilt to criminally laundering funds totalling nearly $1 million connected to a family-run marijuana growing operation. 

Tang walked out of court a free man until his sentencing hearing scheduled for February. The plea deal carries a recommendation of a sentence between eleven and 30 months in prison. It is possible Tang could get probation. A judge will determine the sentence for Tang.

Court documents indicate the marijuana growing operation was spearheaded by other members of his family and people employed at the Heaven Dragon restaurant.

Authorities claimed that between Jan. 1, 2007, and Feb. 16, 2008, Tang was involved in a series of financial transactions aimed at concealing the proceeds from a major pot growing operation.

Tang would provide down payments for homes that contained some 4,000 marijuana plants.

As part of the plea agreement, Tang will be allowed to keep his restaurant, but must forfeit $952,000 that was the amount the government said he laundered to try to avoid detection of the operation by law enforcement. 

Tang emigrated to the U.S. from China in 1980 with hardly anything. But his Thornton restaurant grew in popularity and he fed politicians and presidents.

The restaurant is lined with photos of Tang with politicians like former president George W. Bush, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulani and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.

"Dan Tang presented himself to the community as being a successful businessman," said the DEA's Jeffrey Sweetin. "In reality, he was also a successful drug dealer."

(© MMX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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