Judge imposes $2,500 sanction on government

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Sanctions were imposed against the U.S. Attorney's Office for failing to provide documents related to the government's case to seize a lot in Irvine, California. The government argues the property was purchased by Betsy Tang Ho and her children with proceeds of illegal gambling. Roland, Ronson and Ryan Ho sought a sanction of $5,000 after the government failed to produce various documents including handwritten notes agents made during interviews and the videotapes made by undercover agents of the illegal MGM poker games. 

The government believed the videotapes were irrelevant to the case and the agent's notes didn't have to be turned over.  The court concluded that there was no evidence of bad faith on the part of the government and because of the considerable number of documents in the case, the court imposed a $2,500.