Capt. Morgan J. Donahue USAF 12-13-68 LAOS / MIA Gone but NOT Forgotten!!!
Posted on 07/15/2007 6:35:43 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
SACRAMENTO (AP) -- Former Laotian Gen. Vang Pao, accused of being the ringleader in a plot to overthrow the communist government of Laos, was freed on bail Friday.
U.S. Magistrate Dale Drozd ordered the 77-year-old leader of the Hmong community in America released on a $1.5 million bond after relatives agreed to post four properties in Sacramento, Fresno and Westminster as collateral.
Several hundred Hmong gathered outside the federal courthouse cheered as the former general walked out the front door and through the crowd. Most were wearing white, and some held signs and balloons that said "Welcome home." Others waved American flags or poster-sized framed photographs of the Vietnam War hero.
Vang Pao, who was wearing a dark suit with an open shirt, accepted a bouquet of purple flowers and waved several times, but did not say anything to the crowd. He was escorted to a van and driven away.
"We're just happy he's released, and I'm sure the Hmong community is happy," said John Balazs, Vang Pao's attorney.
Vang Pao and 10 other men are accused of planning to buy nearly $10 million worth of machine guns, anti-aircraft missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, mines and other weapons to topple the government in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
The other central figure in the case, Harrison Jack, 60, a former Army Ranger accused of acting as a middle man between the Hmong leaders and a presumed arms dealer who was really an undercover federal agent, was released late Thursday after posting his $1 million bond, secured by family property.
Earlier Friday, Drozd also ordered the release of Nhia Kao Vang, 48, of Rancho Cordova; Chong Yang Thao, 54, of Fresno; and Hue Vang, 39, of Fresno, bringing the total to 10 of the 11 defendants.
The 11th, Lo Cha Thao, 34, of Clovis, has so far been unable to post his $2.3 million bail.
The men face possible sentences of life in prison if they are convicted. They're accused of conspiring to violate the Neutrality Act against a nation with which the United States is at peace; conspiring to kill, kidnap and maim; conspiring to possess firearms and destructive devices; and conspiring to export munitions without a license from the U.S. State Department.
"Today is the most wonderful day in Hmong history," Paula Yang, a spokeswoman for the Hmong community, said outside the courthouse after Vang Pao's release. "I believe that the judge's heart has been touched by the overwhelming love of the Hmong people. The Hmong people are and always have been loyal allies to the U.S. government."
She said Vang Pao's family would drive him to his Westminster home in Orange County, where he will be under strict house arrest and unable to have visitors.
Prosecutors declined to comment on the magistrate's decision.
Piyaporn Moua, a distant relative of Vang Pao who drove to Sacramento from Anaheim, was pleased he was released even though he is barred from resuming his international leadership role in the Hmong community while he awaits trial.
"We were very worried that he could collapse while in custody," said Moua, who chairs the Hmong New Year Committee of Orange County. "He's old and he has a lot of medical conditions."
Vang Pao has used a wheelchair during several court appearances, including Friday's hearing, after being hospitalized for chest pains last month. But he walked about 300 feet from the courthouse to the van, surrounded and guided by followers.
Most recently, Balazs said jailers brought a nurse to examine Vang Pao after he had similar chest pains about a week ago.
"He's stable, but he has serious health problems," Balazs said.
Federal magistrates had previously ruled that none of the 11 could be released because they were likely to flee and posed a public danger. But they reconsidered Thursday after two of the 11 were hospitalized.
Seng Vue, 68, of Fresno, collapsed in the courtroom during Thursday's hearing. His attorney, Mark Bigelow, said he initially feared his client had a recurrence of a stroke that sent him to the hospital three weeks ago.
"He's stable," Bigelow said Friday. "He's home. He's glad to be in his own bed. He's eating good food and feeling much better."
Chong Yang Thao was hospitalized overnight Wednesday with a stroke and missed Thursday's court appearance. He attended Friday's hearing in a wheelchair, nodding to the federal magistrate but not speaking.
"He is still having numbness and pain through his left side," said his lawyer, Dina Santos. "He is able to speak. They think it was a mild stroke."
All 11 are next scheduled for July 25 court appearances before U.S. District Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr.
The other defendants in the case are Youa True Vang, 60, of Sanger; Dang Vang, 48, of Fresno; Lo Thao, 53, of Sacramento and Chue Lo, 59, of Stockton.
I really hope the whole story gets out...
Then start investigating the background and contacts of that prosecutor who thinks a bunch of old guys in their eighties are really in a condition to do any of the things they undoubtedly talk about.
gotta wonder why Bo Gritz’ name wasn’t in this article
Capt. Morgan J. Donahue USAF 12-13-68 LAOS / MIA Gone but NOT Forgotten!!!
Former Laotian Gen. Vang Pao, accused of being the ringleader in a plot to overthrow the communist government of Laos, was freed on bail Friday. .... Vang Pao and 10 other men are accused of planning to buy nearly $10 million worth of machine guns, anti-aircraft missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, mines and other weapons to topple the government in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. ... The men face possible sentences of life in prison if they are convicted.
We must have fell through a worm hole and are now in the Bizzarro Universe.
Gen. Vang Pao and the ten others should be given medals and a parade. NOT facing fricking life in prison for fighting %^$%#ing COMMIES!!
Once again Joe McCarthy is proved right about the State Department. They are all communists!
Presidential pardon x 11, please.
So he’s free to walk hmung us again?
I guess I need to learn what this “hmong” term/group/sect is.
A couple of years ago they updated all the local ATMs with fancy new-style units featuring touch screens and of course MUCH hipper graphics. Amon the changes this brought was a new language choice. I could suddenly choose to do my banking in “Hmoob”.
This made me laugh. Gimmie no crap, PC-be-damned ... the word “hmoob” made me laugh.
After contemplating ‘hmoob’ for a bit I decided to do a quick internet search to find its definition. What did I get?
“Hmoob: the language of the Hmong”
... which wasn’t enlightening at all, but it did make me laugh again.
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