A federal jury convicted Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow Friday of murder conspiracy, racketeering and other gang-related crimes after a five-year federal undercover investigation of Chinatown gangs that ensnared former state Sen. Leland Yee.
Chow, 56, once praised as a reformed gang leader by San Francisco politicians following his 2003 prison release, was convicted of ordering the killing of the head of a Chinese Chee Kung Tong, Allen Leung, clearing the way for Chow to assume power as “Dragonhead” of the group.
He was also convicted of conspiring to murder a rival, Jim Tat Kong, five counts of trafficking in stolen alcohol and cigarettes and 154 counts of money laundering.
Jurors deliberated two and one-half days before reaching a verdict. Chow faces mandatory life in prison on the murder charge.
Chow took the CKT organization, which had existed since the late 1800s, with its origins in groups aimed at the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in China. It later evolved to civic purposes to protect and benefit Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans from abuse and discrimination here.
The government charged Chow and 26 others had turned the group into a racketeering enterprise that engaged in intimidation, threats, money laundering, trafficking in stolen goods, firearms trafficking and murder.
Former Sen. Yee, who once tried to criminalize sale of violent video games to children, was named in the 137-page indictment on a charge he conspired to traffic in firearms and six counts of public corruption.
Yee was accused of soliciting donations from undercover FBI agents in exchange for multiple official acts.
An FBI undercover agent infiltrated the CKT by posing as an east coast mafia member who was in California to run a gambling operation. He testified in a closed courtroom with video feeds to a separate courtroom to allow public access while maintaining the agent’s anonymity.
Case: U.S. v. Chow, No. 14-196
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