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Thread: Shrimp Boy and the Senator

  1. #1
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    News on the Mountain Lord

    http://news.yahoo.com/fbi-sting-show...MyBHNlYwNzcg--

    FBI sting shows San Francisco Chinatown underworld
    Associated Press By GARANCE BURKE

    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Beneath the strings of red paper lanterns and narrow alleyways of the nation's oldest Chinatown lies a sinister underworld, according to an FBI criminal complaint that has stunned even those familiar with the neighborhood's history of gambling houses, opium dens and occasional gangland-style murders.

    The federal charges, which allege a California lawmaker accepted money and campaign donations in exchange for providing official favors and helping broker an arms deal, cast harsh light on Chinatown's tight-knit network of fraternal organizations and one of its most shadowy characters, Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow.

    Investigators say Chow is the leader — the dragonhead — of one of the most powerful Asian gangs in North America. Chow's gang is said to have lured state Sen. Leland Yee into its clutches through money and campaign contributions in exchange for legislative help, as Yee sought to build his campaign coffers to run for California secretary of state.

    Born in Hong Kong in 1960, Chow came to the United States at 16 and was reportedly nicknamed "Shrimp Boy" by his grandmother, in part due to his small stature.

    After dropping out of high school, Chow rose within the ranks of the local Hop Sing Tong gang after he and his crew survived a 1977 shooting at a Chinatown restaurant that left five dead and about a dozen people injured.

    Chow then spent a few years inside San Quentin Prison for a robbery conviction, and after his release, he started working with the Hong Kong-based Wo Hop To triad, one of numerous Chinese underground societies linked to organized crime. Chow has admitted that as a gang leader, he ran prostitution rings, smuggled drugs and extorted thousands of dollars from business owners in the 1980s.

    "He was given like an unofficial position of being a leader, but to say he was sophisticated, no. He was more like a forceful brute," said Ignatius Chinn, a former California Department of Justice agent who spent years investigating Chow in the early 1990s. "If he didn't get his way, he would just beat the door down and that was how we put cases on him."

    Although he ultimately was convicted of gun charges and sentenced to 25 years to life in the 1990s, Chow cut a deal to win release and returned Chinatown several years ago, pledging to stay straight. His work with at-risk youth soon won accolades from prominent politicians. But the complaint alleges that Chow used his position as the dragonhead of the Ghee Kung Tong to launder money, receive and transport stolen property and traffic in contraband cigarettes during a FBI sting.

    Longtime residents and observers said the startling allegations revealed the continued presence of organized crime in the popular tourist attraction and home to one of the largest Chinese communities outside Asia.

    "Chinatown is a very safe place and usually the crime you hear about there is just robberies and people being taken advantage of," said Joseph Leung, editor for the San Francisco edition of The Sing Tao Daily, the largest circulation Chinese newspaper in the U.S. "That's why this is all so shocking."

    The pre-dawn FBI raid Wednesday at the Ghee Kung Tong's office, next to a massage parlor and across from a benevolent society where elderly people play Mah Jong, also brought into focus its centuries-old history. The tong was founded in the late 1880s to support immigrants from Hong Kong and elsewhere in the Pearl Delta region.

    Amid morning rain showers Wednesday, federal agents and fire crews stormed the building armed with a circular saw and jaws of life to crack a safe that authorities say was at least a century old.

    The organization is among dozens of active tongs, or family associations, in Chinatown, and Chow assumed control when its former president, Allen Leung, was shot to death by a masked gunman at his import-export store in 2006, said David Lee, director of the Chinese American Voters Education Committee.

    "The killer was never caught and there was speculation that Shrimp Boy may have had something to do with it," said Lee, who also teaches political science at San Francisco State University. "He kind of became like a gangster celebrity. He was on parole, he had an ankle bracelet and he became a fixture at political events for a while."

    The 137-page complaint, whose many twists are reminiscent of "American Hustle," does not reveal whether Yee had any connection to Chow before the FBI got involved.

    Yee, a progressive Democrat born in China, built his political fortune partly through Chinatown connections and had never lost a race until his failed bid for San Francisco mayor in 2011.

    A few years before that, Chow's own political star began rising. Around 2008, he began meeting with at-risk youth to talk with kids about how to stay on the straight and narrow, said Rudy Corpuz Jr., executive director of the youth-led violence prevention organization United Playaz.

    "He wasn't just the average guy on the street corner when he had that life, he was somebody you wouldn't mess with. And he's little so people were like, '****, that little guy had that much power?" said Corpuz Jr., who said Chow's redemption story helped change hundreds of young lives for the good.

    Soon, the awards started coming. Chow was lauded by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California for his work as a former offender who had become a community role model, and praised by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee for his "willingness to give back to the community." He posted pictures of himself on Facebook with Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.

    All the while he was running a criminal operation, according to court documents.

    Several years ago, undercover FBI agents assigned to Chow infiltrated the organization, and ultimately snared Yee and his campaign consultant Keith Jackson.

    The three were arrested Wednesday during a series of raids in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area that also netted additional members of the tong.

    Yee, free on $500,000 bail, withdrew Thursday from the race for secretary of state. Chow was denied bail because he was deemed a flight risk and a danger to the public. Jackson was denied bail, too.

    "This is a very active criminal enterprise, and we won't see this one very busy for the near future," Chinn said.

    Yee's allies, however, questioned why the senator had been targeted in the elaborate sting and cautioned that he was innocent until proven guilty.

    Leland always told me to be careful about taking money from the family associations, because you never know where the money is coming from. This kind of flies in the face of what he has told me," said Wayne Lee, a Yee protege who is mayor of the nearby suburb of Millbrae. "He's always been a champion for the downtrodden. I am hoping that he will be vindicated."
    "I'm a highly ranked officer of his tong. HE is the Dragon Head. our BOSS. our LEADER. the Mountain Lord." - hskwarrior

  2. #2
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  3. #3
    yeah organised crime is real big, even if the public don't even know about it.

    Hong Kong and japan have amongst the highest per capita gang membership in the developed world.

  4. #4
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    Shrimp Boy and the Senator

    Looks like bitch boy decided pedophilia and pushing underage prostitutes no longer gets his jollies up.

    http://www.npr.org/2014/03/29/296022...ntent=03292014

  5. #5
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    Yee will continue to receive his $95,291 annual Senate salary.
    1. These guys get almost $100k a year?

    2. Chow is real
    BreakProof Back® Back Health & Athletic Performance
    https://sellfy.com/p/BoZg/

    "Who dies first," he mumbled through smashed and bloody lips.

  6. #6
    Did anyone actually believe that Chow was reformed? This comes as no surprise.

  7. #7
    The real question is, "will Frank seize control during the power vacuum, and if so, who on the KFM boards will be punished first during his reign of terror?"
    Quote Originally Posted by YouKnowWho View Post
    This is 100% TCMA principle. It may be used in non-TCMA also. Since I did learn it from TCMA, I have to say it's TCMA principle.
    Quote Originally Posted by YouKnowWho View Post
    We should not use "TCMA is more than combat" as excuse for not "evolving".

    You can have Kung Fu in cooking, it really has nothing to do with fighting!

  8. #8
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    Frank dares to become the Mountain Lord?
    "I'm a highly ranked officer of his tong. HE is the Dragon Head. our BOSS. our LEADER. the Mountain Lord." - hskwarrior

  9. #9
    Organized crime aside, I got to give him some credit. He did say we have no idea how deep these tongs go...shortly after it's an international news story.
    I would have never guessed that, but then again, I'm pretty far removed from the inner workings of China Town's underworld...
    Quote Originally Posted by YouKnowWho View Post
    This is 100% TCMA principle. It may be used in non-TCMA also. Since I did learn it from TCMA, I have to say it's TCMA principle.
    Quote Originally Posted by YouKnowWho View Post
    We should not use "TCMA is more than combat" as excuse for not "evolving".

    You can have Kung Fu in cooking, it really has nothing to do with fighting!

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kellen Bassette View Post
    The real question is, "will Frank seize control during the power vacuum, and if so, who on the KFM boards will be punished first during his reign of terror?"
    No, the real question is who is Snitch Boy going to give up when he turns state's evidence -

    again.

  11. #11
    It's one thing when a civilian talks, they just want justice or to be safe etc...

    But when a criminal turns, they are the lowest of the low.

  12. #12
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    I was just sworn in as the mountain lord. what you have to say now?
    try reading the affidavit you sorry ass bunch of forum dwellers

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    Last edited by hskwarrior; 03-30-2014 at 08:14 PM.
    Hung Sing Boyz, we gottit on lock down
    when he's around quick to ground and pound a clown
    Bruh we thought you knew better
    when it comes to head huntin, ain't no one can do it better

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by hskwarrior View Post
    I was just sworn in as the mountain lord. what you have to say now?
    It's a pretty sweet title...
    Quote Originally Posted by YouKnowWho View Post
    This is 100% TCMA principle. It may be used in non-TCMA also. Since I did learn it from TCMA, I have to say it's TCMA principle.
    Quote Originally Posted by YouKnowWho View Post
    We should not use "TCMA is more than combat" as excuse for not "evolving".

    You can have Kung Fu in cooking, it really has nothing to do with fighting!

  14. #14
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    well, its mine now.
    Last edited by hskwarrior; 03-30-2014 at 08:10 PM.
    Hung Sing Boyz, we gottit on lock down
    when he's around quick to ground and pound a clown
    Bruh we thought you knew better
    when it comes to head huntin, ain't no one can do it better

  15. #15
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    Only Chinatown...

    ...a walking tour - brilliant.

    A San Francisco restaurant walking tour of the Leland Yee Saga
    Posted on 03/27/2014 at 10:04 am by Paolo Lucchesi in Controversy, featured, Whimsy


    Senator Leland Yee greets people at the Tenderloin Harvest Party in San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, October 15, 2011. Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle

    Yesterday, the events surrounding the arrest of State Sen. Leland Yee captivated the city of San Francisco. As reported by the Chronicle, Yee was arrested on charges that he conspired to traffic in firearms, among other stuff. He was one of 26 people involved in a five-year federal investigation that targeted Chinatown gangster Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow, whose apparent Facebook page is certainly worth a look. Please follow along the Chronicle’s ongoing coverage.

    Just as fascinating for the public was the FBI’s extensively detailed federal affidavit (click here to view), detailing a shocking collection of allegations and complaints from undercover agents who infiltrated the network.

    It reads like a crime novel, listing meetings after meetings throughout the city. Many of these meetings were alleged to have taken place in San Francisco restaurants. However, in most cases, the specific names of the restaurants were omitted. Was the business being conducted in a dingy diner, like the Greek did in the second season of The Wire? Did the meetings take place in an old school Italian red sauce joint like the famous Sollozzo/McClusky dinner in The Godfather?

    These questions may go unanswered, but scattered throughout the 137-page affidavit are several San Francisco restaurant and hotel names (though in case it’s not obvious, it should be pointed out that the restaurants aren’t accused of doing anything wrong). Regardless, food and restaurants play a prominent role in the affidavit, from the revelation that “the placing of a black lion outside of the banquet restaurant [is] to send a message of intimidation to all other organizations that Chow’s organization was the oldest and strongest” (Page 31) to the time that two of Chow’s “people … hid their guns across the street in a restaurant bathroom” upon spotting police officers (Page 32). Also: Shrimp Boy.

    In today’s Internet age, news seems to be fleeting, not unlike a sprightly hummingbird, but for those of who may want to relive the Leland Yee Saga in the coming weeks (and for those who asked for it via Twitter as we await a slew of San Francisco restaurants offering Shrimp Boy specials), Inside Scoop hereby presents: A Walking Tour of the San Francisco Restaurants Mentioned in the Shrimp Boy Federal Affidavit.

    ***


    Pedestrians walk past the New Asia restaurant on Monday, June 18, 2012 in San Francisco, Calif. Photo: The Chronicle

    The place to start our merry adventure is at New Asia Restaurant (772 Pacific Avenue), the local restaurant that plays most prominently in the FBI’s complaint. Open for lunch and dinner, it’s a stately establishment in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown, and according to the affidavit, owner Hon Keung So hosted plenty of community events and is one of the folks ensnared in the charges. New Asia has a Type 47 liquor license, allowing for full liquor. So is accused of purchasing “purportedly stolen liquor from an FBI” undercover agent, which carries a charge of conspiracy to receive and transport stolen property in interstate commerce (Page 10-11 of the affidavit).

    Between bites of dim sum, eagle-eyed diners should keep an eye out for Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch (From the complaint: “UCE 4599 sold 12 cases of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch for $6,480 to Ma and So at the New Asia Restaurant in Chinatown, San Francisco.” Page 50), or perhaps even a framed proclamation on California State Senate letterhead that one of Senator Yee’s staff members is alleged to have presented during a March 2013 dinner (Page 121).

    Oh, and of last night, New Asia was open for business.


    Yank Sing. Photo: Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle.

    From Chinatown, it’s about a 1.1 mile walk to Yank Sing in the Rincon Center (101 Spear Street), arguably the best dim sum spot in all of San Francisco. This Chinese restaurant is a great place for succulent Peking duck and excellent soup dumplings. All the white tablecloths are freshly laundered and ironed, which is perhaps the rationale behind the alleged Yank Sing meeting wherein “UCE 4599 arranged to meet Chow and Nieh to provide a payment to Chow for recent money laundering transactions” (Page 73).


    Waterbar at dusk with the Bay Bridge in the background in San Francisco. Photo: The Chronicle.

    A block away is Waterbar (399 Embarcadero), one of the most beautiful restaurants in the city. It’s the best place to watch the Bay Bridge lights, and its $1 oyster promotion (everyday from 11:30am to 5;30pm) is an amazing Happy Hour deal. Speaking of big deals, the affidavit alleges that the undercover agent paid Keith Jackson a cool $10,000 at Waterbar on November 19, 2012: “Jackson stated that the money would be helpful in retiring Senator Yee’s campaign debt” (Page 116).

    A few months later, the affidavit alleges that “UCE 4599, Senator Yee, and Keith Jackson had drinks at the Waterbar restaurant in San Francisco. This was Senator Yee’s first introduction to UCE 4599″ (Page 119). Maybe, given Yee’s apparent financial problems, they were taking advantage of Happy Hour!


    Alexander’s Steakhouse in San Francisco. Photo: The Chronicle/Liz Hafalia

    After the sea creature delights at Waterbar, it’s time for some red meat, so take a quick jaunt to Alexander’s Steakhouse (448 Brannan Street), a few blocks down in SoMa. You won’t find any bargains here, where the chef’s tasting menu starts at $160, but it’s a wonderful place for group dinners. That was surely the rationale on May 17, 2013, which is the date the affidavit alleges that “UCE 4180 and another FBI undercover employee, UCE-3357, posing as UCE 4180′s business partner, met with Keith Jackson, Senator Yee, and a guest of Senator Yee for dinner at Alexander’s Steakhouse in San Francisco. During the dinner, UCE 4180 discussed CHS#11′s offer to pay $10,000 to Senator Yee to reach out to State Senator 1 (Page 128).”


    Roy’s. Photo: The Chronicle/Jerry Telfer

    For dessert, Roy’s Restaurant (575 Mission Street) is one of the pioneers in Asian fusion cooking, a five-minute cab ride away. By this time, you probably missed the restaurant’s “Aloha Hour” but perhaps you’ll indulge your sweet tooth and try the tri-color carrot torte for dessert. It’s served with cream cheese buttercream, pineapple-orange marmalade and pineapple chips. It’s a slightly heavy dessert, not unlike the “heavy weapons” that Yee’s “unidentified Filipino associate” is alleged to have been supplying to rebel groups in the Philippines. That tidbit comes from a December 13, 2013 meeting at Roy’s: “UCE 4599 met with Keith Jackson and Brandon Jackson at Roy’s Restaurant, San Francisco, California. Keith Jackson said he had spoken to Senator Yee about setting up a meeting with a weapons trafficker … UCE 4599 handed Keith Jackson a white envelope containing $1,000. UCE 4599 told Keith Jackson the $1,000 was motivation for setting up the meeting with the weapons trafficker.” (Page 80)


    Starbucks. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

    At this point, you’re probably beat, but if you’re up for a nightcap, head to the Starlight Room (450 Powell Street) in Union Square. It was on the way there that allegedly “UCE 4599 gave Chow an envelope containing $2,000″ (Page 45).

    But if you want to skip the club, grab a room at the Marriot Marquis (780 Mission Street), just a short hop from Roy’s.

    The Marriot Starbucks is the one of the most recurring meeting places in the affidavit. In particular, Yee himself — perhaps a fan of Frappuccinos, though that tidbit has not yet been confirmed by our Inside Scoop Gun-Trafficking/Beverage Pairings Team– is alleged to have met there several times, including on March 14, 2013: “[A]n FBI confidential human source (CHS#11) who was posing as a business associate of UCE 4773, introduced UCE 4180 to Senator Yee at a face-to-face meeting in a Starbucks at the Marriot Marquis hotel in San Francisco. UCE 4180 told Senator Yee and Jackson, who was also present, that he wanted to be the ‘Anheuser-Busch’ of medical marijuana” (Page 123).

    And if you really want to get serious about retracing the footsteps of Shrimp Boy, there’s always Fisherman’s Wharf.
    BTW, I merged pasman's 'News on the Mountain Lord' thread with SoCo KungFu's thread and kept SCK's title as it was less of an insider's title.
    Gene Ching
    Publisher www.KungFuMagazine.com
    Author of Shaolin Trips
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