USA: MORE THAN 50 SUSPECTED CHINESE GANG MEMBERS ARE ARRESTED IN NEW YORK'S CHINA TOWN

Record ID: 580026

  • Title: USA: MORE THAN 50 SUSPECTED CHINESE GANG MEMBERS ARE ARRESTED IN NEW YORK'S CHINA TOWN
  • Date: 12th November 2004
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 12, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF U.S. ATTORNEY'S PRESS CONFERENCE 0.05 2. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ATTORNEY FOR SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, DAVID KELLEY, SAYING: "From their core gambling business the tentacles of these organisations spread to virtually every imaginable scheme to generate more illicit money, primarily alien smuggling and the trafficking of counterfeit goods." 0.18 3. VARIOUS PHOTOS OF WANG ORGANISATION MEMBERS 0.38 4. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-IN-CHARGE OF NEW YORK FBI, PASQUALE D'AMURO, SAYING: "The list of criminal activities engaged in by the Wang and Lim Organisations reads like the basic handbook for organised crime; racketeering, attempted murder, gambling, money laundering, loan sharking, extortion, alien-smuggling and trafficking in counterfeit goods. Likewise, as in the early days of more traditional organised crime groups, many of the victims of these criminal activities were the members of their own immigrant communities." 1.06 5. WIDE OF TRAFFIC DRIVING THROUGH CHINA TOWN 1.11 7. CLOSE OF STREET SIGN IN ENGLISH / CHINESE 1.16 8. VARIOUS OF SHOPS IN CHINA TOWN 1.27 9. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN CHINATOWN 1.38 10. WIDE OF CHINESE SHOP 1.50 11. WIDE OF NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER, RAY KELLY AT PRESS CONFERENCE 1.57 12. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) KELLY SAYING: "They boasted that they had sent back over 20 million dollars to China in the last several years, and as was said, they used violence to keep their competition in line." 2.10 13. VARIOUS PHOTOS OF LIM ORGANISATION MEMBERS 2.26 14. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) KELLEY SAYING: "Their tentacles crossed the ocean and they couldn't commit many of these crimes without the co-operation and participation of some of their confederates, some of whom are their codefendants located overseas." 2.40 15. WIDE /PAN OF PRESS CONFERENCE 2.51 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 27th November 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAC629KN8C1H3978HSOA9M1L7Z0
  • Story Text: More than 50 suspected Chinese gang members arrested
    in New York City-led operation. More arrests expected in
    China.




    Fifty-one people believed to be members of two
    powerful Chinese organised crime gangs in New York City
    were rounded up in predawn raids and indicted on Friday
    (November 12).

    In three separate indictments filed in Manhattan
    federal court, the gang members faced charges including
    murder, attempted murder, racketeering, extortion, alien
    smuggling, money laundering and operation of illegal
    gambling businesses.

    Announcing the bust, U.S. Attorney for the Southern
    District of New York, David Kelley said, "From their core
    gambling business the tentacles of these organisations
    spread to virtually every imaginable scheme to generate
    more illicit money, primarily alien smuggling and the
    trafficking of counterfeit goods."
    Federal agents and New York police arrested members of
    the Lim and Wang crime organizations after investigations
    spanning two years, authorities said.

    The authorities say the gangs operated illegal gambling
    parlours and used violence to keep the communities they
    lived in terrorised.

    "As in the early days of more traditional organised
    crime groups, many of the victims of these criminal
    activities were the members of their own immigrant
    communities," said Pasquale D'Amuro, Assistant
    Director-in-Charge of the New York office of the FBI.

    It is believed three or four of the arrests were made
    in China. None of those arrested were American citizens,
    and all are believed to be in the U.S. illegally.

    "They boasted that they had sent back over 20 million
    (U.S.) dollars to China in the last several years, and as
    was said, they used violence to keep their competition in
    line," said Ray Kelly, New York Police Department
    Commissioner.

    Authorities say they hope to work with Chinese law
    enforcement to make more arrests in the near future.

    "Their tentacles crossed the ocean and they couldn't
    commit many of these crimes without the co-operation and
    participation of some of their confederates, some of whom
    are their codefendants located overseas," said U.S.

    Attorney Kelley.

    Seven gang members were charged with attempting and
    conspiring to murder five victims. One victim was shot in
    the head, and others were stabbed and beaten almost to
    death.

    The indictments also seek $11 million in forfeiture
    from 16 defendants charged with racketeering offenses.

    The Lim group, led by Lim Shang, and the Wang group,
    headed by Wang Shao Feng, used violence and threats to
    protect their turf and profits, the U.S. Attorney General's
    office said.

    A third indictment charged five defendants with
    smuggling illegal aliens from China to the United States
    for fees of up to $35,000 each, and holding them hostage
    pending payment of smuggling fees.



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