U.S. Attorney working to get illegal gambling trial severed

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The U.S. Attorney's Office has asked the District Court to sever the trial of Wai Kam Ho from Jennie Pau and William Perez.  According to the motion to sever, Assistant U.S. Attorney Karon Johnson will retire at the end of the month and wants to be able to proceed with the trial against Pau and Perez next week. 

Johnson notes that she will have an attorney with her during the trial to familiarize themselves with the illegal gambling case to try Ho at a later time.  The defense contends that Ho cannot return to Guam for the trial at this time because his fugitive wife, Betsy Tang, is on her death bed in a medical facility in China.

Ho, Pau and Perez are accused of engaging in illegal gambling and money laundering at the former MGM Spa.