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U.S. NEWS Thursday 12 sepTember 2019
Chinese businesswoman convicted

in Mar-a-Lago trespass case

By TERRY SPENCER is Charles Lee, a Chinese a member named Zhang
Associated Press national who ran the Unit- and admitted her. Recep-
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) ed Nations Chinese Friend- tionist Ariela Grumaz testi-
— Yujing Zhang’s desire ship Association. It is not fied she immediately spot-
to meet President Donald affiliated with the U.N. He ted Zhang as an outsider.
Trump and his family turned was photographed at least Grumaz said she knows the
the Chinese businesswom- twice with Cindy Yang, a 500 members and most of
an into an American felon. Republican donor and for- their guests and Zhang was
A 10-woman, two-man fed- mer Florida massage parlor taking photos in the lobby,
eral jury convicted Zhang owner who organized Mar- which is prohibited. She also
on Wednesday of tres- a-Lago events. said Zhang was wearing a
passing at the president’s By mid-March, texts the long, gray evening dress at In this April 15, 2019, file court sketch, Yujing Zhang, left, a
Mar-a-Lago club in March Secret Service found on 1 p.m., which seemed odd. Chinese woman charged with lying to illegally enter President
and lying to Secret Service Zhang’s cellphone showed Grumaz said she stopped Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, listens to a hearing before
agents. The 33-year-old Charles told Zhang the Zhang as she tried to walk Magistrate Judge William Matthewman in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Shanghai consultant fac- event had been canceled. past her into another room. Associated Press
es up to six years in prison For the same price she Zhang told her she was doesn’t speak. He said a gear — including a device
when District Judge Roy could attend an event with there for the U.N. event, search showed Zhang was to detect hidden cameras
Altman sentences her Nov. Bill and Hillary Clinton or one but Grumaz knew no such carrying four cellphones, — $8,000 in cash and nu-
22. Zhang, who acted as with investor Warren Buf- event was scheduled. a laptop and an external merous credit and debit
her own attorney after fir- fett, although a photo with Grumaz alerted the Se- hard drive. She told agents cards. She faced no espio-
ing her public defenders in Buffett would cost $40,000 cret Service. Agent Sam she feared they would be nage charges, however.
June, showed no reaction more, testimony showed. Ivanovich testified Zhang stolen if she left them in Ivanovich said Zhang lied
when the verdict was read. Photos with celebrities like told him she was there for her hotel room. However, again, saying she never
She then spoke calmly with the Trumps, the Clintons or a Chinese-American event when agents searched her told Kerr she was there to
federal marshals, discuss- Buffett are sometimes used and showed him an invita- room, they discovered in visit the pool. She carried
ing what would happen by Chinese business owners tion in Mandarin, which he the open more electronics no swimsuit.q
with her legal papers. She for promotion.
smiled at her standby pub- Zhang demanded a re-
lic defenders and was led fund, the text showed. Pros-
back to jail. ecutors said that showed
Prosecutors and Zhang’s she understood the event
standby attorneys de- was off. Still, Zhang flew to
clined to comment. Jury the United States on March
forewoman Shelly Hoffman 28. A limo driver testified
said only, “You heard our that on March 29 he took
verdict.” to Mar-a-Lago a wom-
Zhang’s troubles began in an prosecutors said was
February when she paid Zhang. The woman told
$20,000 to “Charles,” a Willy Isidore she planned
man she knew only on- to visit the club, but he told
line, to attend a Chinese- her that was impossible un-
American friendship event less she had an invitation.
at Mar-a-Lago on March The next day, a taxi
30. It included a prom- dropped Zhang off at the
ised photo with the presi- Secret Service screening
dent or a member of his area across from Mar-a-
family, evidence showed. Lago. The president and
Such meet-and-greets are his family were at the club
common during events at that weekend, although
Mar-a-Lago, the exclusive he was playing golf at his
club Trump has run since nearby course and Zhang
1995 on the grounds of a was never near him.
1920s mansion built by ce- Agent Krystle Kerr testified
real heiress Marjorie Merri- Zhang said she was there
weather Post. to visit the pool. Mar-a-La-
Zhang’s former public de- go managers thought she
fenders believe “Charles” might be the daughter of

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