Jimmy Meng

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jimmy Meng

| image =

| caption =

| state_assembly = New York

| district = 22nd

| term_start = January 1, 2005

| term_end = December 31, 2006

| predecessor = Barry Grodenchik

| successor = Ellen Young

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1944}}

| birth_place = Shandong, Republic of China

| party = Democratic

| spouse =

| children = 3, including Grace

| residence =

| alma_mater =

| profession =

| religion =

| website =

| footnotes =

| native_name = {{no bold|孟廣瑞}}

}}

Jimmy Kuang Zui Meng ({{zh|t=孟廣瑞|p=Mèng Guǎngruì|c=}}, born 1944) is a Chinese-Taiwanese American former politician, who served as a member of the New York State Assembly. A Democrat,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/15/nyregion/ex-assemblyman-meng-pleads-guilty-in-bribe-case.html|title=Ex-Legislator From Queens Pleads Guilty in Bribe Case (Published 2012)|first=David W.|last=Chen|newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 14, 2012}} Meng represented the 22nd Assembly District in Flushing, Queens from 2005 to 2006. He is the first Asian American to have served in the New York State Legislature. Meng pleaded guilty to wire fraud in 2013.

Background and family

Meng's ancestral home was in Shandong Province, China. His father moved to Taiwan due to the Chinese Communist Party's takeover of mainland China. After moving to the United States from Taiwan in 1975,{{Cite web|url=https://qns.com/2002/06/jimmy-meng-vies-to-be-first-asian-in-assembly/|title=Jimmy Meng vies to be first Asian in Assembly|first=Q. N. S.|last=TimesLedger|website=QNS.com}} Meng began a successful timber business.{{Cite news |last=Areddy |first=James T. |date=October 21, 2024 |title=How Beijing Recruited New York Chinatowns for Influence Campaign |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/china/beijing-chinatown-influence-campaign-3f7914f0 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 21, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal}} Following years of business activity, he became the president of the Flushing Chinese Business Association (FCBA).{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

Meng is the father of U.S. Representative Grace Meng.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/13/nyregion/ex-assemblyman-jimmy-k-meng-sentenced-in-bribery-scheme.html|title=Ex-Queens Assemblyman Sentenced in Bribery Case (Published 2013)|first=Sarah Maslin|last=Nir|newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 12, 2013}}

Political career

Meng ran for New York State Assembly in 2002 in the 22nd Assembly District in Flushing, but was defeated by Barry Grodenchik.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qchron.com/news/north/no-surprises-in-elections-for-northern-queens-candidates/article_0b63adf5-e2f3-567d-967a-a7690dfac6d3.html|title=No Surprises In Elections For Northern Queens Candidates|first=Liz|last=Rhoades|website=Queens Chronicle}} In 2004, Meng ran for Assembly again. This time, he ousted Grodenchik in the Democratic primary.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/30/nyregion/asian-immigrants-become-political-force-in-flushing.html|title=Asian Immigrants Become Political Force in Flushing (Published 2004)|first=Corey|last=Kilgannon|newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 30, 2004}} Running on the Democratic, Independence, and Conservative lines, Meng defeated Republican candidate Meilin Tan, Grodenchik (running on the Working Families Party line), and Green candidate Evergreen Chou in the general election.[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-11/05/content_389005.htm "First Asian American in the NY State Assembly"], ChinaDaily, 05-11-2004. Retrieved on 16-02-2007{{Cite web|url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2004/assembly04.pdf |title=NYS Board of Elections - 2004 Assembly General Election Results |date=4 November 2004 |publisher=New York State Board of Elections |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823020906/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2004/assembly04.pdf |archivedate=23 August 2012 }}

Meng served in the Assembly in 2005 and 2006. He stated that he would not seek re-election in 2006 due to health concerns.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/13/nyregion/13assembly.html|title=City Sends 2 Foreign-Born First-Timers to the Assembly (Published 2006)|first=Jonathan P.|last=Hicks|newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 13, 2006}} He expressed a desire for more Asian Americans and other minorities to run for office.{{cite web|url=http://www.chinaqw.com/hqhr/hrdt/200612/24/55800.shtml|title=因健康原因不再竞选连任孟广瑞不轻言退出政坛|work=chinaqw.com|accessdate=22 March 2017}} Meng was succeeded by another Asian American, Ellen Young.{{Cite web|url=https://qns.com/2008/06/ellen-young-makes-history-as-temporary-assembly-speaker/|title=Ellen Young makes history as temporary Assembly speaker|first=Q. N. S.|last=TimesLedger|website=QNS.com}} In turn, Young lost the September 9, 2008 Democratic primary to Jimmy Meng's daughter, Grace Meng.Noah C. Zuss, "Meng Beats Young in Primary for Flushing Seat." "Southeast Queens Press," Sept. 12-18, 2008, p. 11. Grace Meng won the 2008 general election in Assembly District 22{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/nyregion/grace-meng-is-rising-star-for-asian-new-yorkers.html|title=A Breakthrough Candidate and Potential Star (Published 2012)|first=David W.|last=Chen|newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 27, 2012}} and went on to become a member of Congress.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20180823/POLITICS/180829961/congresswoman-in-line-for-queens-power-post-has-tangled-web-of-real-estate-assets|title=Congresswoman in line for Queens power post has tangled web of real estate assets|date=August 23, 2018|website=Crain's New York Business}}

Prosecution and guilty plea

Meng was arrested on federal charges on July 25, 2012.{{cite web|title=Former Assemblymember Jimmy Meng, Father Of Grace Meng, Arrested On Bribary [sic] Charge|url=http://www.qgazette.com/news/2012-07-25/Front_Page/Former_Assemblymember_Jimmy_Meng_Father_Of_Grace_M.html|website=Queens Gazette|publisher=The Service Advertising Group|accessdate=2 September 2015}} On November 14, 2012, he pleaded guilty to wire fraud for soliciting an $80,000 cash bribe (concealed in a fruit basket){{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/corruption-currents/2012/07/25/former-assemblyman-arrested-in-fruit-basket-bribery-case/|title=Former Assemblyman Arrested in Fruit Basket Bribery Case|first=Samuel|last=Rubenfeld|date=25 July 2012|website=wsj.com|publisher=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=22 March 2017}} and falsely stating that he would use the funds to bribe Manhattan prosecutors to obtain a reduced sentence for a defendant. The government found no evidence that Meng contacted anyone in the District Attorney's Office on behalf of the defendant; rather, investigators concluded that Meng intended to keep the $80,000 for himself.{{cite web|title=Former Queens Assemblyman Jimmy Meng Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud|url=https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/newyork/press-releases/2012/former-queens-assemblyman-jimmy-meng-pleads-guilty-to-wire-fraud|website=fbi.gov|publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation|date=November 14, 2012|accessdate=16 January 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Anuta|first1=Joe|title=Jimmy Meng pleads guilty in wire fraud case|url=https://www.timesledger.com/stories/2012/46/mengpleads_web_2012_11_14_q.html|website=timesledger.com|publisher=Times Ledger (Queens, N.Y.)|accessdate=16 January 2018|date=November 14, 2012}} On March 12, 2013, Meng was sentenced to a month in jail, a fine of $30,000, three months of house arrest, and 750 hours of community service for his role in the bribery scheme.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/jimmy-meng-receives-month-sentence-attempting-fix-criminal-case-article-1.1286335|title=Jimmy Meng receives one month sentence for attempting to fix criminal case|work=nydailynews.com|accessdate=22 March 2017}}{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/13/nyregion/ex-assemblyman-jimmy-k-meng-sentenced-in-bribery-scheme.html?_r=0|title = Ex-Queens Assemblyman Sentenced in Bribery Case|last = Nir|first = Sarah Maslin|date = March 12, 2013 |access-date = September 2, 2015 |work = New York Times}}