Feds: Thornton restaurant owner funded pot operations

The owner of a popular Chinese restaurant in Thornton was charged today in federal court with a felony count of money laundering.

If convicted, Dan Khau Tang, 46, owner of Heaven Dragon, will forfeit his right to title and interest in his properties, including $1.8 million in cash seized, according to a media release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Tang is accused of funding an elaborate marijuana-growing operation and laundering money through his restaurant.

The charge against Tang stems from an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and North Metro Task Force that uncovered a large-scale indoor marijuana cultivation and distribution organization in metro Denver.

"The operation was spearheaded by members of Dan Tang's immediate family, and employees of Tang's restaurant, the Heaven Dragon," prosecutors said.

Investigators found 25 indoor grow operations, seized 24,056 marijuana plants and more than $3 million, according to the release.

Tang funded the purchase of homes where the pot was grown, authorities said.
He occasionally hosted political fundraisers, and large framed photographs in the restaurant showed him posing with a wide array of the political elite.
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Dawn has scarcely melted the sky to pink when life begins to stir in the belly of the Dragon.

Uh, make that stir fry in the belly of the Heaven Dragon restaurant, where chef Dan Tang is choreographing a culinary show he hopes will earn lip-smacking approval from the most powerful man on Earth.

"Oh, this highest honor, highest honor," says Tang, explaining what it means to him to prepare takeout Chinese food for President Bush for the third time in four years.
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