The Chinese woman who was arrested and convicted for trespassing at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort has been sentenced.
Yujing Zhang was sentenced Monday to eight months in prison by U.S. District Judge Roy Altman who also ordered that she be turned over to immigration authorities to be deported following her release. That could come as early as next week as the 33-year-old businesswoman has served out nearly that amount of time in prison since her arrest in March, the Miami Herald reported.
(Video: YouTube/WPTV)
The judge noted that Zhang’s trespass on government property – especially where the president is staying – is a “serious offense” and added that “the evidence was overwhelming” that she had lied to Secret Service agents when they confronted her about trying to get into Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida resort which he has been visiting as president.
“She lied time and time again,” Altman said.
Zhang reportedly told Altman that she had gone to the resort “to meet the president and family and just make friends,” prompting the shocked judge to ask if she actually thought it was possible. The Chinese businesswoman apparently laughed at Altman’s question and contended that she even hoped to meet other people as well. Altman called her out for another lie in her claim that Trump had told reporters he had invited her to Mar-a-Lago.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rolando Garcia argued for an 18-month sentence, noting that Zhang “lied to everybody” in her attempt to gain access to the Trump property. Her actions “suggest it was not just to take a photo with a famous person,” he contended, pointing to her false statements to the Secret Service, her cab driver, as well as the receptionist at Mar-a-Lago. Electronics found in her possession and back in her hotel room backed Garcia’s argument.
“That certainly does not suggest she is some misguided tourist. She had an agenda,” he said.
The Shanghai consultant was convicted in September for trespassing at the private Florida club in March and lying to Secret Service agents who confronted her. She had lied to the receptionist about being at the property to use the pool, then saying she was there for a United Nations Chinese Friendship Association event – which had already been canceled. The president was in town at the time but not at the property.
Once arrested, Zhang was found to be in possession of four cellphones, a computer, and an external hard drive. In her Palm Beach hotel room, authorities also found nine flash drives, five cellphone SIM cards, a signal detector and around $8,000 in cash.
(Video: Fox News)
Some details in Zhang’s trial remained unclear as prosecutors filed secret evidence under seal because of alleged national security implications and Altman wrote that serious damage could occur to the country if the evidence were released.
Zhang also fired her attorneys during the trial and represented herself, despite questions about her grasp of English, Altman apparently did not look favorably on the change and had accused the Chinese national of playing “games.”
“I know full well that you understand what I am saying to you both in English and in Mandarin,” Altman said during a hearing in August. “You are trying to play games.”
Zhang has maintained that she did nothing wrong and reiterated her innocence in a closing statement.
“I followed the instruction. I went into the Mar-a-Lago to have a visit,” she reportedly told jurors. “So that’s what I want to say, and thank you for your attention.”
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
[email protected]
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
- INSIDER: Victor Davis Hanson questions the motivation behind pro-Hamas protests, offers a roadmap to end it - April 23, 2024
- Mike Johnson hits campaign trail for Republican who accused GOP colleagues of terrible things on CNN - April 23, 2024
- Biden admin slaps convenience store chain with ‘insane’ lawsuit same day as Joe’s awkward campaign stop - April 23, 2024
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
