Murder Trial Begins in Ill-Fated Sting
A reputed heroin dealer went on trial Monday in Pasadena on charges he shot and killed two undercover federal drug agents and wounded a third during an ill-fated sting operation last year.
In his opening statement, a prosecutor told a Superior Court jury that the evidence will prove that William Wang, 19, is guilty of two counts of first-degree murder with special-circumstance allegations, one count each of attempted murder and conspiracy and three counts of robbery.
If convicted of the murders, Wang, a Hacienda Heights resident who survived after being shot eight times by other drug agents, could be sentenced to die in gas chamber, Deputy Dist. Atty. Joseph Martinez said.
Martinez said U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents George Montoya, 34, and Paul Seema, 52, were gunned down Feb. 5, 1988, in San Marino during an operation aimed at breaking up a Thai drug ring.
Martinez said Wang and an associate shot and killed Montoya and Seema, wounded a third agent, Jose Martinez, and stole $80,000 in cash from the agents.
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