California Democrat And Gun Control Advocate Charged With Arms Trafficking

California Democratic State Senator and candidate for California Secretary of State, Leland Yee, a gun control advocate, has been charged with conspiring to traffic in firearms and public corruption.  The charges are part of a 26 person criminal complaint and a major FBI sting operation.  The full criminal complaint is a massive 137 pages that tells the story of Yee’s involvement with a broad ranging conspiracy that includes firearms trafficking, murder-for-hire, drug distribution, trafficking in contraband cigarettes, money laundering, and honest services fraud.
Yee is charged with “conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and to illegally import firearms” as well as six counts of honest services fraud.  Each corruption charge is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, while the gun-trafficking charge is punishable by up to five years and $250,000.
The firearms laws Yee is alleged to have specifically violated make it unlawful for any person:

except a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer, to engage in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms, or in the course of such business to ship, transport, or receive any firearm in interstate or foreign commerce

and make it unlawful for any person:

to transport or ship in interstate or foreign commerce, any stolen firearm or stolen ammunition, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the firearm or ammunition was stolen.

According to the criminal complaint, Yee was involved in a wide ranging scheme to make an end run around campaign finance laws.  Yee sought to illegally raise funds to retire his debt from his failed mayoral campaign so that he could clear the way for his run for California Secretary of State.  Working with San Francisco political consultant Keith Jackson, Yee used his power and influence to perform official acts in exchange for donations.  On one occasion, Yee agreed to call a manager at the California Department of Public Health to urge support of a contract that was under consideration by the agency, Yee also agreed to provide an official letter of support in exchange for a $10,000 campaign donation.  On another occasion, Yee agreed to introduce donors to various state legislators with influence over pending and proposed medical marijuana legislation, Yee is alleged to have done so in exchange for $11,000 in cash.

State Senator Leland Yee (D-CA), an anti-gun anti-violent video game legislator was arrested on charges he trafficked in firearms and violated corruption laws.

The FBI also alleges that Yee facilitated a meeting between arms dealers and undercover agents in exchange for campaign donations.  The goal of the meetings was to aid the undercover agent in the purchase and importation of a large number of weapons.  Yee and Jackson were involved in the trafficking conspiracy to such a degree that they even discussed the specific details of the types of weapons the undercover agent was interested in buying and importing.
Yee is the third California Senate Democrat embroiled in criminal charges this year, with the others charged with offenses ranging from corruption to voter fraud.  Yee was one of the first California legislators to introduce legislation following the shootings in Newton, Connecticut.  He earned a “D” grade on gun rights from the National Rifle Association, and The Gun Owners of California gave him a 0% rating on gun rights in 2008.  Within minutes of the FBI raiding, Yee’s office, the NRA tweeted “Federal officials raided anti-gun CA Sen Leland Yee’s office at the Capitol, carting away 9 packages of evidence.”
Gregory S. McNeal is a professor specializing in law and public policy.  You can follow him on Twitter @GregoryMcNeal.