Thornton restaurateur Dan Tang’s aspirations of political connections and influence vanished Friday after he pleaded guilty in federal court to funding a marijuana-growing operation that yielded 4,000 pot plants.
The 47-year-old owner of the Heaven Dragon restaurant entered the plea Friday and agreed to forfeit $952,600 in drug earnings.
In return, prosecutors agreed not to go after Tang’s wife, Ying Li, or sue him in civil court for taxes.
Prosecutors recommended that Tang serve between 11 and 30 months in prison and indicated in a plea agreement that they will not oppose terms that include home detention or probation.
However, Chief U.S. District Judge Wiley Daniel indicated that the crime Tang pleaded guilty to carries a range of 70 to 87 months in prison, according to federal sentencing guidelines.
“Yes, I did wrong at the time,” Tang said through a Cantonese interpreter. “I knew I did something wrong, but I did not know it was so serious.”
Daniel may adhere to the guidelines or he could follow the recommendation in the plea agreement when he sentences Tang on Feb. 11.
The judge asked prosecutor Stephanie Podolak why the sentence recommendation falls below the guidelines.
In part, she cited his lack of criminal history, his employment record and the fact that he employs 25 to 30 people who rely on him to keep the business afloat. Podolak also said his involvement in the marijuana- growing operation was limited in scope.
Tang’s attorney, Michael Axt, declined to say why Tang agreed to plead guilty because sentencing is pending. Axt did not allow Tang to speak to reporters.
Tang provided money to purchase homes that were then used to grow marijuana. He also provided false employment documents for growers so they could show legitimate income while they cultivated marijuana.
During the hearing, Axt told the judge that his client never smoked marijuana and that while he provided funding for a grow operation, he was not privy to the number of plants being harvested.
In February 2008, while Tang was under investigation by federal and North Metro Drug Task Force agents, he received a letter tipping him off. The source of the letter was investigated but never determined.
Tang began hiding thousands of dollars and at one point asked former Thornton Mayor Noel Busck to keep a black plastic bag filled with $400,000 for him.
Busck said he initially agreed, believing the money was Tang’s life savings, until Tang told him the police wanted the money and Busck decided to distance himself from the situation and cooperated with the investigation.
Tang often touted his political connections in an effort to promote his restaurant but described himself as an unaffiliated voter.
The Heaven Dragon is adorned with photos of him smiling alongside politicians, including former Sen. Wayne Allard, former Gov. Bill Owens, former Vice President Dick Cheney — all of whom are Republicans — along with Sen. Mark Udall and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, who are Democrats.
One display holds a presidential wristwatch next to a letter from President George W. Bush.
Politicians from both parties distanced themselves from Tang after he was charged and vowed to donate any of his campaign contributions to charity.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
