Chinatown businessman takes heat for alleged ticket-fixing
Witnesses testified that the owner of a translating business helped them keep their records clear.
SPEAKING IN their native Mandarin, two government witnesses testified through an interpreter that by paying a visit to a Chinatown translation-aid business, their pesky traffic tickets were downgraded in nearly seamless fashion.
In the 18th day of the federal corruption trial of six former Traffic Court judges and a businessman, federal prosecutors yesterday tried to show "the fix behind the scenes," as described by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise Wolf. All seven defendants face conspiracy and fraud charges.
Wolf and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Wzorek called two witnesses who spoke under immunity from prosecution in exchange for their testimony. Jin Jiang and Steven Cao, both of Chinatown, spoke of their business relationships with Robert Moy, 56, who is charged with using his personal and political connections with ex-Traffic Court judges to get tickets fixed for his clients.
Jiang said had he received two moving violations since 2010 that he brought to Moy's business seeking help. Moy owns Number One Translations in Chinatown, which specializes in helping non-English-speakers figure out their traffic tickets. Jiang said he had known Moy for more than 10 years "because of traffic tickets," and first saw Moy's services advertised in a local newspaper.
"Because we don't know English, this could help us in the process," said Jiang, who testified that he was primarily concerned about having points assessed against his driver's license. He said that he paid Moy a total of $460 in cash for helping him with both tickets.
Cao, a food-delivery driver, said he paid Moy between $250 and $300 every time he went to Number One Translations - "several times" for several tickets.
"He said he would take care of it," Cao said of Moy.
Both men still had to pay the ticket fines, but both escaped the penalty of points assessed against their driver's licenses, which could have jeopardized their jobs.
Testimony continues today before U.S. District Judge Lawrence Stengel, with the prosecution expected to rest its case.