1 00:00:15,411 --> 00:00:22,531 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Hey everyone, before we get into this episode, I 2 00:00:22,570 --> 00:00:24,290 Speaker 1: wanted to let you know that you can listen to 3 00:00:24,331 --> 00:00:28,011 Speaker 1: the full season of The Chinatownstaning add free right now. 4 00:00:28,371 --> 00:00:32,371 Speaker 1: By signing up for Pushkin Plus. You'll also get bonus episodes, 5 00:00:32,771 --> 00:00:36,330 Speaker 1: full audiobooks, and other true crime binges from your favorite 6 00:00:36,371 --> 00:00:40,531 Speaker 1: Pushkin hosts and authors. Find Pushkin Plus on the Chinatownsting 7 00:00:40,771 --> 00:00:45,051 Speaker 1: Show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin dot fm, 8 00:00:45,091 --> 00:00:49,611 Speaker 1: slash Plus. Previously on The Chinatownsting. 9 00:00:50,691 --> 00:00:54,931 Speaker 2: Asian criminal groups are emerging on the American landscape. Law 10 00:00:55,051 --> 00:00:59,091 Speaker 2: enforcement authorities, particularly federal cannot afford to wait until these 11 00:00:59,171 --> 00:01:01,491 Speaker 2: organizations have fully emmerged. 12 00:01:02,491 --> 00:01:05,851 Speaker 3: If I had to summarize why these gangs exist, I 13 00:01:05,890 --> 00:01:10,291 Speaker 3: can summarize it in one word. Racism. That is the cool. 14 00:01:10,530 --> 00:01:13,611 Speaker 3: The root of the issue is racism. 15 00:01:13,931 --> 00:01:17,691 Speaker 4: Are you crying, Yeah, because that was mad. 16 00:01:18,571 --> 00:01:21,851 Speaker 5: Not at yourself, not at the rules. 17 00:01:21,371 --> 00:01:22,691 Speaker 4: Well, the whole thing everything. 18 00:01:28,211 --> 00:01:30,690 Speaker 1: When Tina Wang was eleven years old, she met another 19 00:01:30,771 --> 00:01:33,611 Speaker 1: kid with an incredible knack for getting others to do 20 00:01:33,691 --> 00:01:37,891 Speaker 1: things they wouldn't normally do. Tina remembers they met while 21 00:01:37,931 --> 00:01:40,651 Speaker 1: they were playing a game they called Chinese jump rope. 22 00:01:41,291 --> 00:01:44,530 Speaker 6: You put rubber bands together until you make a long 23 00:01:44,611 --> 00:01:46,251 Speaker 6: rubber band and then you got to jump over it 24 00:01:46,451 --> 00:01:47,411 Speaker 6: some like that. 25 00:01:48,091 --> 00:01:50,771 Speaker 4: And then she came over with her friend. They go, oh, 26 00:01:50,891 --> 00:01:51,611 Speaker 4: what's your name. 27 00:01:53,971 --> 00:01:56,571 Speaker 1: Wah was a year older than Tina. She wore bell 28 00:01:56,571 --> 00:01:59,531 Speaker 1: bottomed jeans. She had shoes with big rubber soles called 29 00:01:59,611 --> 00:02:04,371 Speaker 1: marshmallow shoes. For Tina, it was friend love at first sight. 30 00:02:05,171 --> 00:02:09,091 Speaker 4: Yeah, she was very cute. How so she was just 31 00:02:09,171 --> 00:02:11,331 Speaker 4: a very good looking. 32 00:02:12,451 --> 00:02:14,491 Speaker 6: A lot of people said, you know, though she was 33 00:02:14,531 --> 00:02:18,731 Speaker 6: good looking, she was good looking, and she was always 34 00:02:18,851 --> 00:02:23,211 Speaker 6: uh stylish, and she was always fashionable. 35 00:02:25,011 --> 00:02:27,691 Speaker 1: Wah's family had immigrated to the US from China when 36 00:02:27,731 --> 00:02:31,091 Speaker 1: she was six. That was right around nineteen sixty five, 37 00:02:31,691 --> 00:02:36,291 Speaker 1: when ethnic immigration quotas were finally banned. Wah's family lived 38 00:02:36,291 --> 00:02:39,651 Speaker 1: in Little Italy, but she and Tina hung out in Chinatown, 39 00:02:39,891 --> 00:02:42,131 Speaker 1: just a few blocks over. They would go to the 40 00:02:42,171 --> 00:02:45,331 Speaker 1: movies together or to the Chinatown Fair, which was actually 41 00:02:45,371 --> 00:02:45,931 Speaker 1: an arcade. 42 00:02:46,651 --> 00:02:50,171 Speaker 6: They had a like a ferris wheel for one, but 43 00:02:50,251 --> 00:02:51,891 Speaker 6: we used to put like two people in there. 44 00:02:52,050 --> 00:02:52,971 Speaker 7: Oh huh. 45 00:02:53,011 --> 00:02:55,210 Speaker 4: It was like ten cents to go around. 46 00:02:55,531 --> 00:02:55,891 Speaker 1: Uh huh. 47 00:02:56,291 --> 00:02:57,491 Speaker 4: It was pretty fun. 48 00:02:58,651 --> 00:03:01,051 Speaker 6: Wa has sisters and brothers, but her and her sister 49 00:03:01,211 --> 00:03:05,411 Speaker 6: used to fight a lot, so I don't know, we 50 00:03:05,571 --> 00:03:06,131 Speaker 6: just clicked. 51 00:03:09,491 --> 00:03:12,291 Speaker 1: When she was little, Tina got picked on sometimes because 52 00:03:12,331 --> 00:03:14,331 Speaker 1: she was one of the few Chinese kids at her school. 53 00:03:15,050 --> 00:03:17,931 Speaker 1: After immigration opened up, she got picked on sometimes by 54 00:03:17,971 --> 00:03:21,091 Speaker 1: the new kids because she was only half Chinese. But 55 00:03:21,131 --> 00:03:24,691 Speaker 1: when she met Wah, she found her place. Wah was 56 00:03:24,691 --> 00:03:25,370 Speaker 1: the ring leader. 57 00:03:26,171 --> 00:03:30,091 Speaker 6: Sometime we would go like uptown. We would go shopping 58 00:03:31,291 --> 00:03:34,171 Speaker 6: on fourteenth Street or thirty fourth Street. 59 00:03:34,171 --> 00:03:36,811 Speaker 4: For what it's for, like clothes, and. 60 00:03:36,851 --> 00:03:40,611 Speaker 6: Wall was like the direct of what we should wear. 61 00:03:41,731 --> 00:03:43,811 Speaker 1: So you would go shopping and she'd be like, don't 62 00:03:43,851 --> 00:03:45,211 Speaker 1: get that shirt, get this shirt. 63 00:03:45,331 --> 00:03:48,291 Speaker 4: No, get this, it's nice, it looks good on you. Well, 64 00:03:48,331 --> 00:03:49,291 Speaker 4: cut your hair like this. 65 00:03:49,931 --> 00:03:53,611 Speaker 6: She is a bossy person, but we didn't mind because 66 00:03:53,651 --> 00:03:56,371 Speaker 6: she was funny. She was fun to hang out with. 67 00:03:56,451 --> 00:03:56,651 Speaker 8: You know. 68 00:03:58,211 --> 00:04:02,611 Speaker 1: They sometimes got into some light trouble cutting school, smoking weed, 69 00:04:03,091 --> 00:04:05,651 Speaker 1: getting rides in the back of some guy's truck, holding 70 00:04:05,691 --> 00:04:08,411 Speaker 1: on with ropes. What was your guys' reputation? 71 00:04:08,811 --> 00:04:11,931 Speaker 6: We would the uh cool girls for the poor girls 72 00:04:12,131 --> 00:04:14,811 Speaker 6: because we all didn't really have money. 73 00:04:15,491 --> 00:04:17,371 Speaker 1: One time, their click was mentioned in one of the 74 00:04:17,450 --> 00:04:21,011 Speaker 1: Chinatown newspapers. It was just in passing. Tina doesn't even 75 00:04:21,051 --> 00:04:24,251 Speaker 1: remember exactly why, but she does remember that the reporter 76 00:04:24,371 --> 00:04:24,851 Speaker 1: gave them a. 77 00:04:24,931 --> 00:04:31,771 Speaker 6: Nickname they put in the newspaper, Pink Eagles, and we 78 00:04:31,771 --> 00:04:34,010 Speaker 6: were laughing. They go, who gave us that name? 79 00:04:34,690 --> 00:04:37,931 Speaker 1: Why? The pink Eagles? Because did you guys even wear pink? 80 00:04:38,451 --> 00:04:38,611 Speaker 2: No? 81 00:04:38,811 --> 00:04:39,570 Speaker 1: You didn't like it. 82 00:04:40,331 --> 00:04:44,011 Speaker 4: No, that's like so like for me, childish, I don't know. 83 00:04:45,371 --> 00:04:47,851 Speaker 1: To Tina, it didn't sound as cool as the actual 84 00:04:47,891 --> 00:04:53,690 Speaker 1: gang names, like, for example, the Flying Dragons. As Tina 85 00:04:53,731 --> 00:04:56,211 Speaker 1: talked about Wat, it made me think about how when 86 00:04:56,251 --> 00:04:58,891 Speaker 1: you become friends with someone when you're growing up, they 87 00:04:58,931 --> 00:05:02,771 Speaker 1: actually helped determine who you grow into. And when that happens, 88 00:05:03,171 --> 00:05:04,971 Speaker 1: there will always be a part of them in you, 89 00:05:05,690 --> 00:05:11,531 Speaker 1: whether you like it or not. I'm Lyddia Jean Cott. 90 00:05:12,291 --> 00:05:16,531 Speaker 1: This is the Chinatown Staying Episode three, What's a Friend. 91 00:05:27,651 --> 00:05:30,171 Speaker 1: When Tina and Wall were in their twenties, as sometimes 92 00:05:30,211 --> 00:05:33,291 Speaker 1: happens with childhood best friends, they drifted out of touch, 93 00:05:33,811 --> 00:05:36,010 Speaker 1: but then Wah reached out. 94 00:05:36,291 --> 00:05:40,291 Speaker 6: She heard that I had a daughter, so I think 95 00:05:40,331 --> 00:05:44,330 Speaker 6: she contacted me somehow. She gave my daughter like a 96 00:05:44,331 --> 00:05:46,811 Speaker 6: little bracelet, and then we started hanging back again. 97 00:05:47,651 --> 00:05:50,851 Speaker 1: They were having fun in the Majan parlors, and soon 98 00:05:51,171 --> 00:05:54,851 Speaker 1: Wah had a request Katina accept a package for Wall 99 00:05:55,131 --> 00:05:59,130 Speaker 1: in the mail. She'd pay her a lot. Of course, 100 00:05:59,331 --> 00:06:02,450 Speaker 1: the box is filled with heroin, but the money was good. 101 00:06:03,611 --> 00:06:05,691 Speaker 1: While invaded Tina on a trip to Asia with her, 102 00:06:06,131 --> 00:06:09,411 Speaker 1: they actually met up with Johnny ng There aka Missie 103 00:06:09,411 --> 00:06:12,971 Speaker 1: Sheen Gun Johnny or Onion Head, the leader of the 104 00:06:13,011 --> 00:06:17,731 Speaker 1: powerful Flying Dragons Gang. Tina says she wasn't that impressed. 105 00:06:18,331 --> 00:06:22,171 Speaker 4: He was like Waa's friend. I mean, he was nice. 106 00:06:22,211 --> 00:06:26,531 Speaker 6: She bought us like drinks and stuff and took us 107 00:06:26,611 --> 00:06:30,571 Speaker 6: like on a tour of Indonesia, which was. 108 00:06:31,091 --> 00:06:31,611 Speaker 4: That's all right. 109 00:06:32,651 --> 00:06:35,371 Speaker 1: After that trip, Tina started to get a bad feeling. 110 00:06:36,091 --> 00:06:38,811 Speaker 1: This time Wa was pulling her into a world she 111 00:06:38,851 --> 00:06:41,371 Speaker 1: shouldn't be a part of, while was asking her to 112 00:06:41,411 --> 00:06:44,411 Speaker 1: receive more and more packages, and Tina didn't want to. 113 00:06:45,091 --> 00:06:47,131 Speaker 1: Wah had gotten to bossy. 114 00:06:47,690 --> 00:06:49,931 Speaker 6: And I just didn't want to take it no more. 115 00:06:50,611 --> 00:06:55,091 Speaker 6: So I just I guess she stopped calling me. I 116 00:06:55,131 --> 00:06:57,011 Speaker 6: stopped calling her. 117 00:06:57,851 --> 00:07:00,330 Speaker 1: This was the only time they had ever really fought. 118 00:07:00,531 --> 00:07:03,531 Speaker 1: She thought they'd make up, but about five months later, 119 00:07:03,891 --> 00:07:06,691 Speaker 1: federal agents showed up at Tina's door and they took 120 00:07:06,731 --> 00:07:09,291 Speaker 1: her into custody. She hoped WA would help her get 121 00:07:09,291 --> 00:07:10,411 Speaker 1: a lawyer or something. 122 00:07:11,851 --> 00:07:13,811 Speaker 6: She always said that she would help me if anything, 123 00:07:14,851 --> 00:07:16,571 Speaker 6: and no help came, so I said okay. 124 00:07:18,491 --> 00:07:21,611 Speaker 1: In jail, Tina ran into another woman from the Majong parlors. 125 00:07:22,131 --> 00:07:25,211 Speaker 1: That woman had cooperated and given up Tina's name. She 126 00:07:25,211 --> 00:07:28,411 Speaker 1: had agreed to accept packages because she had gambling debts 127 00:07:28,731 --> 00:07:32,291 Speaker 1: and she was the mother of twin girls. Tina forgave her. 128 00:07:32,811 --> 00:07:34,491 Speaker 4: Well, I'm not going to hate her. You know, she 129 00:07:34,531 --> 00:07:35,451 Speaker 4: had to do she had to do. 130 00:07:36,851 --> 00:07:39,691 Speaker 1: The question for Tina was would she also do what 131 00:07:39,811 --> 00:07:43,171 Speaker 1: she had to do. She didn't want to betray her 132 00:07:43,211 --> 00:07:48,291 Speaker 1: old friend Waw. She knew cooperating could be dangerous, but 133 00:07:48,331 --> 00:07:51,331 Speaker 1: if she went to prison, she might not be reunited 134 00:07:51,531 --> 00:07:53,411 Speaker 1: with her baby daughter for decades. 135 00:07:54,211 --> 00:07:57,211 Speaker 6: Of course, you're going to take a chance, even if 136 00:07:57,211 --> 00:07:59,531 Speaker 6: it's on your life, because when it comes to a kid, 137 00:07:59,971 --> 00:08:01,371 Speaker 6: everybody's gonna choose their kid. 138 00:08:02,691 --> 00:08:05,531 Speaker 1: But it's kind of a terrible choice because you could 139 00:08:05,571 --> 00:08:07,251 Speaker 1: get killed and then you're not going to be there 140 00:08:07,251 --> 00:08:07,811 Speaker 1: for your kid. 141 00:08:08,691 --> 00:08:10,491 Speaker 4: Yeah, with those chances you take. 142 00:08:12,731 --> 00:08:15,211 Speaker 1: The day after her arrest, Tina sat in the office 143 00:08:15,291 --> 00:08:18,651 Speaker 1: a federal prosecutor, Beryl Howell. They would face each other 144 00:08:18,811 --> 00:08:21,811 Speaker 1: many times over the next few months. As Tina was 145 00:08:21,851 --> 00:08:22,491 Speaker 1: in custody. 146 00:08:24,571 --> 00:08:27,891 Speaker 8: On March second, nineteen eighty eight, and March fourteenth, nineteen 147 00:08:27,971 --> 00:08:31,251 Speaker 8: eighty eight, Tina Wong was debriefed in the Eastern District 148 00:08:31,331 --> 00:08:34,491 Speaker 8: of New York. Wong stated that she became friends with 149 00:08:34,651 --> 00:08:38,571 Speaker 8: Wah at a young age. In June of nineteen eighty seven. 150 00:08:39,050 --> 00:08:42,011 Speaker 8: Wong said Wa asked her if she would like to 151 00:08:42,090 --> 00:08:45,091 Speaker 8: make some money by accepting male parcels from Hong Kong. 152 00:08:45,930 --> 00:08:48,930 Speaker 8: Wong further stated that Wa gave her a few days 153 00:08:48,970 --> 00:08:53,290 Speaker 8: of advanced notice regarding the arrival of the mail parcel Wong. 154 00:08:53,970 --> 00:08:58,570 Speaker 1: As Tina talked, Beryl listened intently. She took handwritten notes 155 00:08:58,570 --> 00:09:02,051 Speaker 1: with the blue pen. Her questions in one column Tina's 156 00:09:02,050 --> 00:09:04,771 Speaker 1: answers and the other column, you. 157 00:09:04,731 --> 00:09:07,290 Speaker 9: Hope you're getting the whole story. You do your best 158 00:09:07,330 --> 00:09:09,810 Speaker 9: to get the whole story. So you do the best 159 00:09:09,810 --> 00:09:15,530 Speaker 9: you can with both carrots and sticks to ensure that 160 00:09:15,570 --> 00:09:19,930 Speaker 9: you were getting You know the truth and the whole 161 00:09:19,930 --> 00:09:21,771 Speaker 9: truth from cooperators. 162 00:09:22,530 --> 00:09:24,850 Speaker 1: Beryl wanted to know more about Wall as a means 163 00:09:24,851 --> 00:09:27,851 Speaker 1: to an end Her ultimate goal was to bring down 164 00:09:27,891 --> 00:09:30,810 Speaker 1: Johnny Yang, the gangster she believed to be at the 165 00:09:30,851 --> 00:09:34,771 Speaker 1: top of this heroin scheme, but to do that, Beryl 166 00:09:34,771 --> 00:09:38,651 Speaker 1: would need lots of solid evidence against him. All the 167 00:09:38,690 --> 00:09:41,251 Speaker 1: people she had talked to so far were too low 168 00:09:41,290 --> 00:09:44,771 Speaker 1: down in the operation to describe Johnny's role, even Tina. 169 00:09:45,930 --> 00:09:49,450 Speaker 1: But Beryl was pretty sure that Wall was different, that 170 00:09:49,491 --> 00:09:52,771 Speaker 1: she took orders from Johnny directly, in part because she 171 00:09:52,851 --> 00:09:55,410 Speaker 1: seemed to be the one directing all the women, and 172 00:09:55,450 --> 00:09:59,011 Speaker 1: in part because her boyfriend Michael Yu was high up 173 00:09:59,050 --> 00:10:03,211 Speaker 1: in the Flying Dragon's gang. He went by the nickname Fox. 174 00:10:04,251 --> 00:10:07,610 Speaker 9: The hope was that people had some direct contact with 175 00:10:07,690 --> 00:10:11,850 Speaker 9: Johnny Yang would cooperate, and that would have been Wah 176 00:10:12,210 --> 00:10:12,851 Speaker 9: or Michael U. 177 00:10:14,011 --> 00:10:16,771 Speaker 1: So Beryl had Tina's statements about how she accepted these 178 00:10:16,810 --> 00:10:20,731 Speaker 1: packages of heroin at Wah's direction. Beryl had also obtained 179 00:10:20,771 --> 00:10:24,891 Speaker 1: audio recordings of conversations between Wall and another woman who 180 00:10:24,891 --> 00:10:28,371 Speaker 1: had accepted packages of heroin. This woman had agreed to 181 00:10:28,450 --> 00:10:31,171 Speaker 1: call Waw and tell her she had received a package 182 00:10:31,450 --> 00:10:37,051 Speaker 1: while federal agents secretly recorded. The actual recordings are gone, 183 00:10:37,491 --> 00:10:41,011 Speaker 1: but we have the transcripts. My co reporter Shu Yu 184 00:10:41,050 --> 00:10:44,570 Speaker 1: Wang and I read them together. You want to be 185 00:10:44,810 --> 00:10:49,251 Speaker 1: Wall and I'll be the woman. Okay, hello, hello, I 186 00:10:49,290 --> 00:10:51,450 Speaker 1: got that thing at my house so fast. 187 00:10:52,050 --> 00:10:52,690 Speaker 7: Huh. 188 00:10:52,731 --> 00:10:56,251 Speaker 10: But listen, did you see the you know how speak 189 00:10:56,330 --> 00:10:57,131 Speaker 10: pick Latin? 190 00:10:58,330 --> 00:10:59,251 Speaker 1: You must be kidding. 191 00:10:59,410 --> 00:11:01,971 Speaker 7: Yeah, that's to keep it safe. Stupid. 192 00:11:02,251 --> 00:11:05,771 Speaker 10: You know they might have a fucking transmitter or bug. 193 00:11:05,930 --> 00:11:07,410 Speaker 10: You never know, stupid. 194 00:11:09,011 --> 00:11:11,090 Speaker 1: So yeah, as a lawyer, what would you think if 195 00:11:11,090 --> 00:11:15,090 Speaker 1: you were reading this this wire toop whow smart? 196 00:11:15,530 --> 00:11:18,851 Speaker 10: So, like, while this whole time was just trying to 197 00:11:18,970 --> 00:11:23,330 Speaker 10: be very vague and not referring to anything, not using 198 00:11:23,330 --> 00:11:28,571 Speaker 10: any names or terms, like that thing, put it in 199 00:11:28,611 --> 00:11:31,290 Speaker 10: a bag, very vague instructions. 200 00:11:31,371 --> 00:11:34,290 Speaker 7: To the other woman on the line, She's. 201 00:11:34,170 --> 00:11:38,490 Speaker 10: Like, not really communicating any details about the delivery, about 202 00:11:38,491 --> 00:11:41,571 Speaker 10: the drop off location, about what it is, even though 203 00:11:41,570 --> 00:11:43,331 Speaker 10: we all know that is the drug packages. 204 00:11:43,450 --> 00:11:45,251 Speaker 1: She's like, what about pig Latin? So that way, I 205 00:11:45,251 --> 00:11:49,210 Speaker 1: guess she could be like arowin, Hey. 206 00:11:48,290 --> 00:11:50,931 Speaker 10: Yeah, she definitely have heard something or sence something that 207 00:11:51,011 --> 00:11:51,530 Speaker 10: is going on. 208 00:11:51,690 --> 00:11:51,970 Speaker 5: Yeah. 209 00:11:52,530 --> 00:11:55,851 Speaker 1: So, through these wired taps and her conversations with Tina 210 00:11:55,930 --> 00:11:59,451 Speaker 1: and other people, Beryl was gathering this evidence about Wall. 211 00:11:59,570 --> 00:12:02,570 Speaker 1: But I think she was also kind of like trying 212 00:12:02,611 --> 00:12:05,131 Speaker 1: to figure out who this person is and what they're like. 213 00:12:05,450 --> 00:12:05,651 Speaker 2: Right. 214 00:12:06,090 --> 00:12:09,211 Speaker 1: You know, Beryl was a lawyer at a time where 215 00:12:09,210 --> 00:12:11,891 Speaker 1: it was still like not that common to be a 216 00:12:11,930 --> 00:12:16,331 Speaker 1: female prosecutor. And while was this woman who was like 217 00:12:16,611 --> 00:12:20,811 Speaker 1: operating this business, this enterprise that was affiliated with the gangs, 218 00:12:21,131 --> 00:12:24,450 Speaker 1: and there weren't very many other women doing that either. 219 00:12:24,651 --> 00:12:26,330 Speaker 7: Maybe there's a level of resinance. 220 00:12:26,530 --> 00:12:29,050 Speaker 9: Yeah, One thing in the back of my mind is 221 00:12:29,131 --> 00:12:31,450 Speaker 9: how was she able to recruit all of these women 222 00:12:31,491 --> 00:12:34,251 Speaker 9: to do it? And what I found was that she 223 00:12:34,771 --> 00:12:42,530 Speaker 9: was a fun, charismatic, dynamic individual and that's part of 224 00:12:42,570 --> 00:12:44,771 Speaker 9: how she was able to do it, in addition to 225 00:12:44,810 --> 00:12:47,290 Speaker 9: all the other factors that went into them opting to 226 00:12:47,330 --> 00:12:50,931 Speaker 9: say yes all except package for ten to twenty thousand 227 00:12:50,930 --> 00:12:52,210 Speaker 9: dollars or thirty. 228 00:12:52,810 --> 00:12:55,811 Speaker 1: Every single person pretty much who knew why. Most people 229 00:12:55,810 --> 00:12:59,011 Speaker 1: did who I talked to you about this story talked 230 00:12:59,011 --> 00:13:01,690 Speaker 1: about her like she was like this force, like really 231 00:13:01,731 --> 00:13:04,611 Speaker 1: different from other people. I talked to this one guy, 232 00:13:04,651 --> 00:13:07,530 Speaker 1: a former gangster who I don't think i'd talked to 233 00:13:07,651 --> 00:13:10,050 Speaker 1: wall for a long time. I'm not sure, but as 234 00:13:10,050 --> 00:13:14,251 Speaker 1: soon as I brought her up to him, he instantly 235 00:13:14,290 --> 00:13:15,930 Speaker 1: remembered her She's. 236 00:13:15,731 --> 00:13:17,131 Speaker 4: A very very pretty girl. 237 00:13:17,170 --> 00:13:20,810 Speaker 11: Back then, everywhere you go, is you see her? A 238 00:13:20,810 --> 00:13:23,011 Speaker 11: matter of fact, can I show her the picture? 239 00:13:23,891 --> 00:13:27,130 Speaker 1: He literally had a photo on his phone of her 240 00:13:27,450 --> 00:13:29,410 Speaker 1: and it was like all ready to go, like he 241 00:13:29,450 --> 00:13:31,211 Speaker 1: was just able to pull it up immediately, and it 242 00:13:31,290 --> 00:13:34,091 Speaker 1: was a picture of her from the like nineteen eighties. 243 00:13:34,170 --> 00:13:35,371 Speaker 7: Sounds like someone had a crush. 244 00:13:36,930 --> 00:13:40,010 Speaker 1: And in the photo it's like her and her boyfriend 245 00:13:40,131 --> 00:13:43,811 Speaker 1: Michael U known as Fox, and he's kind of like 246 00:13:43,930 --> 00:13:45,851 Speaker 1: leaning back but towards her a little bit. He's like 247 00:13:45,851 --> 00:13:48,571 Speaker 1: a small guy, and she does look super cool. She 248 00:13:48,651 --> 00:13:51,610 Speaker 1: has kind of like a mullet style of haircut that 249 00:13:51,651 --> 00:13:54,771 Speaker 1: I think was cool then, and like some like lip gloss, 250 00:13:55,851 --> 00:13:58,050 Speaker 1: dangly earrings. Definitely cool girl. 251 00:13:58,170 --> 00:13:59,011 Speaker 7: She had a style. 252 00:13:59,170 --> 00:14:01,851 Speaker 1: She just seems larger than life. So yeah, everyone talked 253 00:14:01,851 --> 00:14:03,930 Speaker 1: about Wall like she was special, and I think that's 254 00:14:03,930 --> 00:14:06,810 Speaker 1: why we really wanted to find her. Eventually, I found 255 00:14:06,810 --> 00:14:11,131 Speaker 1: an address in Florida, and I glue to Florida by 256 00:14:11,170 --> 00:14:17,011 Speaker 1: myself literally just to knock on this door. Yes, and 257 00:14:17,011 --> 00:14:19,330 Speaker 1: then this woman opened the door. And I remember this 258 00:14:19,451 --> 00:14:22,571 Speaker 1: because like she was wearing purple contacts. She was absolutely 259 00:14:22,571 --> 00:14:27,411 Speaker 1: beautiful in a bit like threw me off balances. Okay, 260 00:14:27,411 --> 00:14:30,091 Speaker 1: but yeah, Wah was not there, and I was like, 261 00:14:30,210 --> 00:14:32,330 Speaker 1: this is it. I've reached the end of the journey. 262 00:14:32,970 --> 00:14:34,211 Speaker 7: But then what happened. 263 00:14:35,531 --> 00:14:37,731 Speaker 1: At that house? I got a phone number for a while, 264 00:14:38,210 --> 00:14:41,531 Speaker 1: I called it and eventually she agreed to meet up. 265 00:14:42,171 --> 00:14:44,211 Speaker 12: Don't call me on the weekends. Okay, I'm out to 266 00:14:44,291 --> 00:14:46,691 Speaker 12: the city at Lansa City. If you need to go 267 00:14:46,811 --> 00:14:48,090 Speaker 12: there you want to grow much. 268 00:14:48,251 --> 00:14:50,091 Speaker 13: I can get to a room and. 269 00:14:50,291 --> 00:14:50,811 Speaker 8: Where in the city. 270 00:14:51,011 --> 00:15:08,251 Speaker 1: Yeah, we'll be right back. I had heard so much 271 00:15:08,291 --> 00:15:11,370 Speaker 1: about this woman wh who had convinced all these moms 272 00:15:11,451 --> 00:15:14,891 Speaker 1: with young children to smuggle heroine. I wanted to hear 273 00:15:14,931 --> 00:15:18,451 Speaker 1: from her how and why she did it. We're referring 274 00:15:18,451 --> 00:15:20,371 Speaker 1: to her just as Wah because she asked us to 275 00:15:20,411 --> 00:15:21,451 Speaker 1: only use her first name. 276 00:15:22,531 --> 00:15:22,811 Speaker 3: She You. 277 00:15:23,011 --> 00:15:25,811 Speaker 1: And I finally met her at a Peaking Duck restaurant 278 00:15:25,851 --> 00:15:28,891 Speaker 1: in Chinatown. I had put a lot of effort in 279 00:15:28,931 --> 00:15:31,051 Speaker 1: trying to find a quiet place where we could talk. 280 00:15:31,611 --> 00:15:32,931 Speaker 1: Wah hated it. 281 00:15:33,771 --> 00:15:36,090 Speaker 13: Next time go to a seven, saying, wow. 282 00:15:36,771 --> 00:15:39,251 Speaker 1: That's a different restaurant that I apparently should have chosen. 283 00:15:40,571 --> 00:15:43,691 Speaker 1: Waw is in her sixties. She has short, spiky hair. 284 00:15:44,011 --> 00:15:47,411 Speaker 1: She was wearing a leather jacket, tightish pants. She has 285 00:15:47,491 --> 00:15:51,691 Speaker 1: lots of gold jewelry and a dramatic white and beige manicure. 286 00:15:52,771 --> 00:15:54,971 Speaker 1: One person I talked to told me that her theme 287 00:15:55,051 --> 00:15:58,931 Speaker 1: song should be the Madonna song Who's That Girl? And 288 00:15:59,011 --> 00:16:03,411 Speaker 1: she was absolutely living up to the hype. It took 289 00:16:03,531 --> 00:16:05,611 Speaker 1: us months to pin down a time to meet. She 290 00:16:05,731 --> 00:16:08,771 Speaker 1: canceled a few times because she said she had been 291 00:16:08,811 --> 00:16:11,211 Speaker 1: up late the night before gambling. 292 00:16:12,330 --> 00:16:13,811 Speaker 13: I'm already nervous, already. 293 00:16:14,731 --> 00:16:17,611 Speaker 1: Let's start with why do you like gambling? 294 00:16:18,771 --> 00:16:21,090 Speaker 13: Why do I? 295 00:16:20,330 --> 00:16:20,490 Speaker 3: Who? 296 00:16:21,090 --> 00:16:23,971 Speaker 12: I guess when you get older, you get bored, so 297 00:16:24,090 --> 00:16:26,651 Speaker 12: nothing moves you, not even men. 298 00:16:29,371 --> 00:16:32,691 Speaker 13: So that's my drenaline rush. 299 00:16:32,731 --> 00:16:36,371 Speaker 12: That's my excitement, you know, like when you bet, when 300 00:16:36,371 --> 00:16:40,451 Speaker 12: you place money, don't your heartbeat, that's the way it goes. 301 00:16:40,491 --> 00:16:43,651 Speaker 12: That's your adrenaline rush. That's the rush you want. You 302 00:16:43,771 --> 00:16:44,411 Speaker 12: know what I'm saying? 303 00:16:44,731 --> 00:16:45,531 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know? 304 00:16:45,651 --> 00:16:46,411 Speaker 13: I should have quit. 305 00:16:47,691 --> 00:16:50,611 Speaker 1: She did not quit. Over the years, she's been betting 306 00:16:50,611 --> 00:16:51,370 Speaker 1: more and more. 307 00:16:52,051 --> 00:16:54,130 Speaker 13: I play football, baseball. 308 00:16:54,210 --> 00:16:55,451 Speaker 5: Do you watch sports? 309 00:16:55,851 --> 00:16:55,971 Speaker 6: No? 310 00:16:56,210 --> 00:16:57,011 Speaker 13: Only if I bet? 311 00:16:57,891 --> 00:17:00,651 Speaker 1: But why is true? Passion? It's still magong. 312 00:17:01,371 --> 00:17:04,130 Speaker 12: It keeps your mind occupied. You don't have to think 313 00:17:04,131 --> 00:17:06,531 Speaker 12: about anything else. All you do is look at your 314 00:17:06,571 --> 00:17:10,891 Speaker 12: court and you know, focus on it so you can 315 00:17:11,491 --> 00:17:12,051 Speaker 12: you can win. 316 00:17:12,451 --> 00:17:14,971 Speaker 13: You want to win. But if you play for money, 317 00:17:15,091 --> 00:17:18,931 Speaker 13: that's like excitement. If you play for fun, you'd rather 318 00:17:19,011 --> 00:17:22,571 Speaker 13: go to sleep. If you win, yeah, it's good. 319 00:17:22,691 --> 00:17:26,451 Speaker 12: Oh I can't buy buy something now, I have a 320 00:17:26,451 --> 00:17:30,130 Speaker 12: couple of hundred dollars. But if you lose, you, oh 321 00:17:30,171 --> 00:17:31,851 Speaker 12: my god, the win or help? 322 00:17:31,891 --> 00:17:34,931 Speaker 13: Look at the money, right right right? You got to 323 00:17:34,971 --> 00:17:38,091 Speaker 13: go for revenge. 324 00:17:40,011 --> 00:17:42,571 Speaker 1: I've heard that part of what makes masong fun is 325 00:17:42,611 --> 00:17:45,891 Speaker 1: that it's an equal combination of skill and luck. You 326 00:17:45,931 --> 00:17:47,771 Speaker 1: can never predict what will happen next. 327 00:17:48,611 --> 00:17:51,651 Speaker 5: How long does a game take for you or me? 328 00:17:52,091 --> 00:17:52,771 Speaker 3: Yeah? 329 00:17:52,891 --> 00:17:55,451 Speaker 13: I played like twenty four hours. We're be talking about 330 00:17:56,371 --> 00:17:56,811 Speaker 13: if you do. 331 00:17:56,811 --> 00:17:58,091 Speaker 1: Not play twenty four hours? 332 00:17:58,131 --> 00:18:00,211 Speaker 13: Do you sometime? I don't sleep? 333 00:18:02,051 --> 00:18:04,451 Speaker 1: What was comfortable talking to me? And she you about gambling. 334 00:18:05,011 --> 00:18:07,371 Speaker 1: She also told us a bit about her family. She 335 00:18:07,411 --> 00:18:11,090 Speaker 1: has three kids. Asked her about her past involvement with 336 00:18:11,131 --> 00:18:14,291 Speaker 1: the gangs. Suddenly she didn't know a lot. 337 00:18:14,651 --> 00:18:17,251 Speaker 13: Wait, we just hang out with them because they are friends, 338 00:18:17,331 --> 00:18:20,131 Speaker 13: and that's it. That's why we would call gangs. I 339 00:18:20,131 --> 00:18:20,571 Speaker 13: don't know. 340 00:18:21,371 --> 00:18:23,931 Speaker 1: I've heard from other former gang members that if you 341 00:18:23,971 --> 00:18:27,411 Speaker 1: were a member of say the Flying Dragons, you couldn't 342 00:18:27,411 --> 00:18:31,051 Speaker 1: even enter a gambling parlor operated by their rivals, the 343 00:18:31,051 --> 00:18:34,411 Speaker 1: Ghost Shadows. But from how Wall talked, it seemed like 344 00:18:34,491 --> 00:18:36,051 Speaker 1: she didn't really care about these feuds. 345 00:18:36,811 --> 00:18:40,371 Speaker 12: I practically hang out with all the gangs. Almost where 346 00:18:40,371 --> 00:18:43,411 Speaker 12: do you go to school, you know them. All the 347 00:18:43,491 --> 00:18:46,371 Speaker 12: gangs are like good kids. They come out from the 348 00:18:46,411 --> 00:18:47,051 Speaker 12: same school. 349 00:18:47,371 --> 00:18:48,171 Speaker 13: You know them more. 350 00:18:49,291 --> 00:18:51,931 Speaker 1: I've also heard that all the gang members were guys. 351 00:18:52,371 --> 00:18:55,451 Speaker 1: They had girlfriends of course, and wives, but the women 352 00:18:55,531 --> 00:18:59,451 Speaker 1: didn't get involved with their activities. Again, Wall was different. 353 00:19:00,091 --> 00:19:03,931 Speaker 1: Were there other women who were like as powerful as 354 00:19:03,931 --> 00:19:04,851 Speaker 1: you were in like the. 355 00:19:04,811 --> 00:19:07,971 Speaker 5: World of the gangs? I don't think so You're the 356 00:19:07,971 --> 00:19:09,371 Speaker 5: most powerful woman in the world of the gang. 357 00:19:10,851 --> 00:19:13,611 Speaker 13: I think so. 358 00:19:14,731 --> 00:19:18,451 Speaker 1: WA's boyfriend, Michael U aka Fox, was high up in 359 00:19:18,491 --> 00:19:22,171 Speaker 1: the Flying Dragons. He ran the gambling parlor on Pell Street, 360 00:19:22,491 --> 00:19:25,331 Speaker 1: and that parlor was kind of like the gang's headquarters. 361 00:19:25,811 --> 00:19:29,491 Speaker 1: He also oversaw a bunch of other gambling parlors, including 362 00:19:29,491 --> 00:19:34,411 Speaker 1: the Mahjong parlors in Chinatown. Waw sometimes worked at that 363 00:19:34,451 --> 00:19:37,331 Speaker 1: gambling parlor on Pell Street. Her job was to get 364 00:19:37,331 --> 00:19:40,371 Speaker 1: people to keep playing. She also hung out in all 365 00:19:40,371 --> 00:19:44,171 Speaker 1: the other parlors, so she knew everyone. She knew who 366 00:19:44,291 --> 00:19:47,811 Speaker 1: was in debt, whose house might be undergoing renovation, whose 367 00:19:47,891 --> 00:19:52,691 Speaker 1: husband wasn't paying child support, who for whatever reason might 368 00:19:52,731 --> 00:19:55,531 Speaker 1: be interested in receiving a package in the mail in 369 00:19:55,651 --> 00:19:57,731 Speaker 1: exchange for a lot of money. 370 00:19:59,011 --> 00:20:01,971 Speaker 12: First of all, you didn't think of nothing back then 371 00:20:02,491 --> 00:20:05,531 Speaker 12: you're just thinking, oh, seize it'll make money. 372 00:20:06,651 --> 00:20:10,011 Speaker 13: That was it, You know, you didn't think of the outcome. 373 00:20:11,131 --> 00:20:14,651 Speaker 1: Waugh told us she feels terrible about bringing drugs into 374 00:20:14,691 --> 00:20:17,571 Speaker 1: the country, but she does not feel bad for the 375 00:20:17,611 --> 00:20:20,651 Speaker 1: woman who she brought into the scheme. They wanted money 376 00:20:20,891 --> 00:20:22,491 Speaker 1: and they knew they were taking a risk. 377 00:20:23,331 --> 00:20:25,611 Speaker 13: If you're gonna make money, it must be something bad. 378 00:20:27,051 --> 00:20:29,371 Speaker 12: So you got an idea ready. You don't have to 379 00:20:29,371 --> 00:20:30,371 Speaker 12: go into the detail. 380 00:20:30,851 --> 00:20:33,971 Speaker 5: Do you remember when you got arrested? What was that like? 381 00:20:34,851 --> 00:20:38,251 Speaker 13: What's like? What the hell? I was gambling? 382 00:20:39,451 --> 00:20:42,650 Speaker 1: On March first, nineteen eighty eight, the same day that 383 00:20:42,691 --> 00:20:46,291 Speaker 1: Tina Wong was arrested, Wall was having a great day. 384 00:20:46,931 --> 00:20:50,491 Speaker 1: She won seven thousand dollars. But as gonna happen in 385 00:20:50,571 --> 00:20:53,731 Speaker 1: Majong and in life, she was about to lose it. 386 00:20:53,771 --> 00:20:57,851 Speaker 12: All, I'm coming now, I'm looking amber house over there. 387 00:20:58,331 --> 00:21:01,291 Speaker 12: And then I woke around the corner and like five 388 00:21:01,411 --> 00:21:02,891 Speaker 12: six white people, you know. 389 00:21:02,931 --> 00:21:03,731 Speaker 13: Push me in the car. 390 00:21:04,131 --> 00:21:04,691 Speaker 2: What the hell? 391 00:21:05,371 --> 00:21:07,171 Speaker 13: Why? Who are they? You know? 392 00:21:07,291 --> 00:21:07,731 Speaker 1: Right there? 393 00:21:07,731 --> 00:21:09,331 Speaker 13: And then you don't. 394 00:21:09,091 --> 00:21:10,611 Speaker 5: Know, you thought you were being kidnapped. 395 00:21:10,731 --> 00:21:13,011 Speaker 12: Yeah, you walking down the street and there you go 396 00:21:13,091 --> 00:21:16,291 Speaker 12: to call stop right next to you and then wow, 397 00:21:16,771 --> 00:21:18,811 Speaker 12: a couple of guys come out and push you in 398 00:21:18,811 --> 00:21:21,051 Speaker 12: the car just like that and take off. 399 00:21:21,971 --> 00:21:25,330 Speaker 13: What the hell I thought they with the mafia, I 400 00:21:25,371 --> 00:21:29,851 Speaker 13: don't know. And then they drove me to the seaport. Yeah, 401 00:21:29,931 --> 00:21:32,451 Speaker 13: so I'm not getting dumped in the river. 402 00:21:34,411 --> 00:21:36,491 Speaker 1: Just as they had threatened all the other women, the 403 00:21:36,571 --> 00:21:39,491 Speaker 1: agents threatened Wah. They told her that unless she told 404 00:21:39,531 --> 00:21:42,330 Speaker 1: them everything she knew, she was facing decades in prison, 405 00:21:42,731 --> 00:21:44,531 Speaker 1: she wouldn't be able to see her kids grow up. 406 00:21:45,171 --> 00:21:47,091 Speaker 1: But Wah was unmoved. 407 00:21:48,691 --> 00:21:50,411 Speaker 13: I don't know. I don't know what you're talking about. 408 00:21:55,571 --> 00:21:59,851 Speaker 8: At approximately eight pm March first, nineteen eighty eight, Wah 409 00:22:00,131 --> 00:22:03,171 Speaker 8: was arrested on the corner of Pell and Bowery Streets, 410 00:22:03,211 --> 00:22:06,371 Speaker 8: New York, New York, by special agents Mattesser and Flood. 411 00:22:07,051 --> 00:22:09,971 Speaker 8: Wah was advised of her constitutional right, it's by Peter 412 00:22:10,051 --> 00:22:13,211 Speaker 8: Mattesser and refused to make any statements. 413 00:22:13,731 --> 00:22:17,211 Speaker 1: The next day, WA's boyfriend, Michael U, was also arrested. 414 00:22:17,971 --> 00:22:22,251 Speaker 8: On March second, nineteen eighty eight. Michael U was located 415 00:22:22,291 --> 00:22:26,051 Speaker 8: at his residence when informed by Special Agency and that 416 00:22:26,131 --> 00:22:30,091 Speaker 8: he was under arrest for importing heroin through the international mail. 417 00:22:30,691 --> 00:22:36,411 Speaker 8: You stated he quote never received any packages. That was 418 00:22:36,411 --> 00:22:37,731 Speaker 8: his girlfriends. 419 00:22:39,611 --> 00:22:42,371 Speaker 1: Wah was taken to the mcc A jail right outside 420 00:22:42,371 --> 00:22:46,330 Speaker 1: of Chinatown. It's this huge, grayish building with tiny windows. 421 00:22:46,611 --> 00:22:49,371 Speaker 1: It looks kind of like a square death star. The 422 00:22:49,451 --> 00:22:52,731 Speaker 1: agents took Michael You there too, and Waugh was not 423 00:22:52,851 --> 00:22:53,771 Speaker 1: thrilled to see him. 424 00:22:54,211 --> 00:22:55,330 Speaker 5: When did you guys? Break up? 425 00:22:56,211 --> 00:22:57,851 Speaker 13: Will come ever since? In there? 426 00:22:58,051 --> 00:22:59,451 Speaker 5: Did you guys talk when you're in jail? 427 00:22:59,531 --> 00:22:59,610 Speaker 2: Like? 428 00:22:59,611 --> 00:23:00,891 Speaker 5: Were you like? Did you see each other? 429 00:23:01,091 --> 00:23:01,291 Speaker 13: Yeah? 430 00:23:01,291 --> 00:23:03,931 Speaker 12: He was across the hall like you could see the 431 00:23:05,611 --> 00:23:10,731 Speaker 12: window and window and I to talk to. 432 00:23:10,771 --> 00:23:13,451 Speaker 13: Guys on the cycle. I might still see you. 433 00:23:15,731 --> 00:23:19,051 Speaker 1: Wah gives me a sly look, but you gotta pay. 434 00:23:21,771 --> 00:23:22,291 Speaker 4: Mm hmmm. 435 00:23:23,571 --> 00:23:25,651 Speaker 1: Did you get blounder them? 436 00:23:25,731 --> 00:23:28,291 Speaker 13: Yeah? We did a lot of people. 437 00:23:29,491 --> 00:23:30,370 Speaker 5: What else are you gonna do? 438 00:23:31,331 --> 00:23:32,610 Speaker 13: I lost a lot of money in there. 439 00:23:32,691 --> 00:23:32,851 Speaker 10: Too. 440 00:23:33,571 --> 00:23:35,251 Speaker 13: All the women, they got money. 441 00:23:35,491 --> 00:23:38,731 Speaker 12: If you could lose four or five thousand there blank carts. 442 00:23:40,051 --> 00:23:41,891 Speaker 1: It says a lot about Waw that it sounds like 443 00:23:42,011 --> 00:23:43,411 Speaker 1: she actually liked being in jail. 444 00:23:43,931 --> 00:23:48,610 Speaker 13: Oh I had a good time. Yeah, I tell you 445 00:23:48,651 --> 00:23:52,211 Speaker 13: a lot of the offices they liked me. Yeah, they 446 00:23:52,371 --> 00:23:56,051 Speaker 13: like me. Yeah. So I got a lot. 447 00:23:56,291 --> 00:23:59,251 Speaker 12: I got everything I want, you know, And I could 448 00:23:59,251 --> 00:24:00,411 Speaker 12: tell them to do whatever. 449 00:24:00,771 --> 00:24:03,090 Speaker 13: You know, some of them they do for me. 450 00:24:03,931 --> 00:24:06,051 Speaker 1: How do you get people to do whatever you want 451 00:24:06,131 --> 00:24:06,571 Speaker 1: for you? 452 00:24:06,651 --> 00:24:10,771 Speaker 13: Because I'm smart, convince them, you know. 453 00:24:15,411 --> 00:24:19,651 Speaker 1: Federal authorities hoped that once Wall was in custody, she'd cooperate, 454 00:24:20,331 --> 00:24:24,371 Speaker 1: but clearly that tactics didn't work, and Michael Yu, her boyfriend, 455 00:24:24,691 --> 00:24:29,291 Speaker 1: wasn't talking either, So Prosecutor Beryl Howell convinced a grand 456 00:24:29,371 --> 00:24:33,611 Speaker 1: jury to return in nineteen count indictment against them. Maybe 457 00:24:33,611 --> 00:24:38,811 Speaker 1: that would get them to turn. Still, Waw did not budge. 458 00:24:39,411 --> 00:24:42,051 Speaker 1: Wa tells people what to do. She doesn't let other 459 00:24:42,091 --> 00:24:45,411 Speaker 1: people tell her what to do. She and Michael U 460 00:24:45,491 --> 00:24:49,090 Speaker 1: got fancy lawyers. They were taking their case to trial. 461 00:24:50,051 --> 00:25:11,371 Speaker 1: Waugh was playing this one to win. After Tina told 462 00:25:11,411 --> 00:25:14,330 Speaker 1: Waugh she wasn't going to accept anywhere mail packages. The 463 00:25:14,411 --> 00:25:17,531 Speaker 1: next time she saw her was at her trial. Waw, 464 00:25:17,691 --> 00:25:20,651 Speaker 1: like Tina, was a mom. Tina hoped that Waugh would 465 00:25:20,731 --> 00:25:23,091 Speaker 1: understand that she was just doing what she had to do, 466 00:25:23,771 --> 00:25:29,891 Speaker 1: but she couldn't be sure. The proceedings began on August sixteenth, 467 00:25:30,011 --> 00:25:33,650 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty eight. Waugh was tried alongside her boyfriend Michael Yu, 468 00:25:34,131 --> 00:25:37,371 Speaker 1: and four other people lower down in the scheme. Beryl 469 00:25:37,411 --> 00:25:39,811 Speaker 1: Howell gave the opening statement for the prosecution. 470 00:25:40,611 --> 00:25:43,811 Speaker 9: This is a heroin spiggling case. During the trial, you 471 00:25:43,811 --> 00:25:47,251 Speaker 9: will hear how each of the six defendants participated in 472 00:25:47,291 --> 00:25:50,451 Speaker 9: a scheme to smuggle into the United States from Hong 473 00:25:50,531 --> 00:25:55,091 Speaker 9: Kong over one hundred and fifty pounds of heroin. Wah 474 00:25:55,331 --> 00:25:58,211 Speaker 9: and Michael Yu were the ring leaders of this operation. 475 00:25:59,371 --> 00:26:02,090 Speaker 1: For Beryl, of course, the goal of this trial was 476 00:26:02,131 --> 00:26:05,891 Speaker 1: for Waw and Michael U to be found guilty, because 477 00:26:05,931 --> 00:26:08,971 Speaker 1: then she hoped they would agree to testify against the 478 00:26:08,971 --> 00:26:11,731 Speaker 1: person she believed was really at the top of this 479 00:26:11,811 --> 00:26:16,451 Speaker 1: heroin importation scheme, Johnny ing onion Head. 480 00:26:20,411 --> 00:26:22,211 Speaker 7: What does Barrel remember about a trial? 481 00:26:22,691 --> 00:26:24,771 Speaker 1: What Beryl remembers about the trial was that it was 482 00:26:24,931 --> 00:26:27,571 Speaker 1: really far away, way out in long Island, and she 483 00:26:27,611 --> 00:26:29,731 Speaker 1: even had to get a hotel. And remember she was 484 00:26:29,811 --> 00:26:32,091 Speaker 1: new on the job, so she was by herself doing 485 00:26:32,091 --> 00:26:34,971 Speaker 1: this really complicated trial with six defendants. 486 00:26:35,691 --> 00:26:38,851 Speaker 9: You know, I was accustomed to trying cases in Brooklyn, 487 00:26:39,371 --> 00:26:42,531 Speaker 9: where you know, just walking down the hall, I could 488 00:26:42,571 --> 00:26:46,251 Speaker 9: say I could toss ideas around or say this just happened. 489 00:26:46,851 --> 00:26:49,051 Speaker 9: What did I do wrong? I what do I need 490 00:26:49,051 --> 00:26:51,291 Speaker 9: to do to fix it? But in Hoppog, I was 491 00:26:51,451 --> 00:26:55,371 Speaker 9: sort of by myself out there doing it, and there 492 00:26:55,371 --> 00:26:59,371 Speaker 9: were no computers, so I remember, like at night, when 493 00:26:59,411 --> 00:27:04,211 Speaker 9: there were emotions being filed by the defense attorneys, I 494 00:27:04,251 --> 00:27:06,091 Speaker 9: had to hand right my responses. 495 00:27:08,851 --> 00:27:12,331 Speaker 1: So she was lawyer was Gerald Lefcourt. He's a very 496 00:27:12,371 --> 00:27:16,571 Speaker 1: experienced trial lawyer. And I printed out his opening statement 497 00:27:17,011 --> 00:27:18,651 Speaker 1: because I'm curious what you think about it. 498 00:27:19,731 --> 00:27:24,251 Speaker 10: Okay WA's council stated, this is a case about Chinatown. 499 00:27:24,411 --> 00:27:26,771 Speaker 10: I don't know how many of you have visited Chinatown, 500 00:27:26,891 --> 00:27:30,331 Speaker 10: but it is a town that's late. In Chinatown, there 501 00:27:30,331 --> 00:27:34,171 Speaker 10: are gangs, there is prostitution, there is gambling on levels 502 00:27:34,171 --> 00:27:37,291 Speaker 10: that are very different than you or I understand. It 503 00:27:37,331 --> 00:27:40,051 Speaker 10: has an old history and an old culture. You will 504 00:27:40,091 --> 00:27:43,011 Speaker 10: hear in this trial proof about ancient Chinese games. 505 00:27:43,771 --> 00:27:46,091 Speaker 1: What do you think about it? It's so dramatic. 506 00:27:46,211 --> 00:27:47,171 Speaker 7: It's so dramatic. 507 00:27:47,331 --> 00:27:50,331 Speaker 1: Like you said, in Chinatown, there's gangs, there's prostitution, there's 508 00:27:50,851 --> 00:27:53,130 Speaker 1: gambling on levels that are different than you or I 509 00:27:53,171 --> 00:27:53,891 Speaker 1: can understand. 510 00:27:53,971 --> 00:28:00,090 Speaker 10: Now I'm imagining like a jury of mostly non Asian people. 511 00:28:00,931 --> 00:28:04,331 Speaker 1: It feels like he's talking to all white people who maybe, yeah, 512 00:28:04,371 --> 00:28:06,131 Speaker 1: have never been to a Chinatown. 513 00:28:06,251 --> 00:28:08,411 Speaker 10: I guess like he was trying to build up some 514 00:28:08,451 --> 00:28:12,411 Speaker 10: financial hardship that eventually pushed him into this position, Like 515 00:28:12,451 --> 00:28:14,451 Speaker 10: you got to got into the culture and the background 516 00:28:14,451 --> 00:28:16,771 Speaker 10: in the community to understand why are people doing this 517 00:28:17,051 --> 00:28:18,850 Speaker 10: to create like a defense for his client. 518 00:28:19,051 --> 00:28:22,971 Speaker 1: Yeah, so Beryl was basically the only female lawyer in 519 00:28:23,011 --> 00:28:25,611 Speaker 1: the courtroom. The lawyers for all the six defendants were 520 00:28:25,611 --> 00:28:29,851 Speaker 1: men and David she and the US Customs agent told 521 00:28:29,891 --> 00:28:31,731 Speaker 1: me that what's it out to him was this one 522 00:28:31,771 --> 00:28:35,331 Speaker 1: moment that happened between Beryl and Fox's lawyer. 523 00:28:36,011 --> 00:28:40,011 Speaker 11: I think I was on the witness stand and he 524 00:28:40,091 --> 00:28:43,091 Speaker 11: actually patted Beryl on the top of her head like 525 00:28:43,171 --> 00:28:46,651 Speaker 11: in a very condescending way, like thanks, little girl, you 526 00:28:46,651 --> 00:28:50,651 Speaker 11: don't go back to your table, And she handled it 527 00:28:50,731 --> 00:28:54,051 Speaker 11: so professionally. But she said, if you ever do that 528 00:28:54,091 --> 00:28:56,451 Speaker 11: to me again, you'll regret it. 529 00:28:57,891 --> 00:29:00,531 Speaker 1: David Chan was like, heck, yeah, you're gonna regret it, 530 00:29:00,651 --> 00:29:02,411 Speaker 1: and he was going to make sure of that. And 531 00:29:02,451 --> 00:29:04,611 Speaker 1: he said that he noticed that all the defense lawyers 532 00:29:04,611 --> 00:29:08,371 Speaker 1: were getting paid in cash in the parking lot. If 533 00:29:08,371 --> 00:29:10,371 Speaker 1: you're getting paid in cash, there's like a form that 534 00:29:10,371 --> 00:29:12,211 Speaker 1: you're supposed to fill out to report it because you're 535 00:29:12,211 --> 00:29:15,131 Speaker 1: supposed to pay taxes on that, and he had a 536 00:29:15,171 --> 00:29:17,931 Speaker 1: feeling that they were maybe not filling out that form. 537 00:29:18,251 --> 00:29:20,131 Speaker 7: Sounds like gangster of affairs. 538 00:29:19,731 --> 00:29:21,611 Speaker 1: That Burrell was so not paying attention. She had just 539 00:29:21,651 --> 00:29:22,451 Speaker 1: like totally moved on. 540 00:29:23,331 --> 00:29:25,771 Speaker 9: So I was like just focused on making my arguments, 541 00:29:26,171 --> 00:29:29,291 Speaker 9: you know, the best I could, getting my evidence in 542 00:29:29,291 --> 00:29:32,811 Speaker 9: front of the jury. You know, all the other noise 543 00:29:33,691 --> 00:29:36,891 Speaker 9: around me was something I probably just considered noise, and 544 00:29:36,931 --> 00:29:40,051 Speaker 9: the head patting I probably considered noise annoying noise. 545 00:29:41,371 --> 00:29:45,091 Speaker 7: Yeah, she know what job she's at there for. Yeah. 546 00:29:45,451 --> 00:29:49,371 Speaker 1: Beryl introduced her witnesses, and you know, one of her 547 00:29:49,411 --> 00:29:53,331 Speaker 1: star witnesses was, of course Tina, who was going to 548 00:29:53,371 --> 00:29:56,731 Speaker 1: testify about how Waugh had asked her to accept these 549 00:29:56,731 --> 00:30:00,051 Speaker 1: packages of Heroin. Based on the transcripts, it seems like 550 00:30:00,051 --> 00:30:02,011 Speaker 1: the Tina that was on the stand is the Tina 551 00:30:02,051 --> 00:30:05,931 Speaker 1: that we know, especially when on cross one of the 552 00:30:06,011 --> 00:30:09,051 Speaker 1: lawyers was trying to discredit her by being like he said, 553 00:30:09,091 --> 00:30:11,491 Speaker 1: Jerry her, you know, don't you play majong? And she 554 00:30:11,531 --> 00:30:14,931 Speaker 1: said yes, and he said, isn't that an illegal gambling game? 555 00:30:15,371 --> 00:30:18,051 Speaker 1: And then she said Jewish people play, and then he 556 00:30:18,091 --> 00:30:20,651 Speaker 1: had to be like, oh yeah, my grandmother plays majong. 557 00:30:21,331 --> 00:30:21,811 Speaker 7: Oh wow. 558 00:30:21,891 --> 00:30:24,131 Speaker 1: And I feel like a snappy retort like that is 559 00:30:24,291 --> 00:30:25,811 Speaker 1: very is very Tina. 560 00:30:26,251 --> 00:30:28,851 Speaker 10: If she holds the same image on the stand as 561 00:30:28,931 --> 00:30:32,291 Speaker 10: how she was talking to us. She seemed calm and 562 00:30:32,331 --> 00:30:35,611 Speaker 10: put together enough to be a convincing witness from what 563 00:30:35,651 --> 00:30:36,571 Speaker 10: we have observed. 564 00:30:37,251 --> 00:30:39,251 Speaker 1: And I agree, when she's talking to you, it does 565 00:30:39,331 --> 00:30:42,211 Speaker 1: seem like she's not embellishing what she's saying is true, 566 00:30:42,731 --> 00:30:44,651 Speaker 1: but she does often give you the feeling that she's 567 00:30:44,691 --> 00:30:49,011 Speaker 1: not telling you everything. And Tina was different than a 568 00:30:49,051 --> 00:30:51,291 Speaker 1: lot of the women who had been pulled into this scheme. 569 00:30:51,691 --> 00:30:53,851 Speaker 1: A lot of the women accepted these packages of heroin 570 00:30:53,971 --> 00:30:57,691 Speaker 1: because they had gambling debts. But I actually talked to 571 00:30:57,731 --> 00:31:00,091 Speaker 1: Tina and she said that she wasn't in debt. That 572 00:31:00,131 --> 00:31:00,771 Speaker 1: wasn't the reason. 573 00:31:01,891 --> 00:31:04,651 Speaker 6: First of all, it's friendship is my friend and we're 574 00:31:04,931 --> 00:31:05,931 Speaker 6: in it all together. 575 00:31:06,291 --> 00:31:09,331 Speaker 4: So and then money, yeah, and then the money. 576 00:31:10,571 --> 00:31:13,531 Speaker 1: So Tina did it because it was Wall who asked her, 577 00:31:13,971 --> 00:31:16,251 Speaker 1: and she thought that it would maybe make them closer. 578 00:31:17,451 --> 00:31:18,331 Speaker 4: She was a good friend. 579 00:31:19,411 --> 00:31:20,651 Speaker 1: Do you think in a way she was trying to 580 00:31:20,691 --> 00:31:23,771 Speaker 1: look out for you when she offered you the package opportunity? 581 00:31:23,971 --> 00:31:24,451 Speaker 4: I think so. 582 00:31:26,371 --> 00:31:28,371 Speaker 6: I mean it was I'm the one that has to 583 00:31:29,051 --> 00:31:32,251 Speaker 6: think should I do that? I'm not, But you know, 584 00:31:32,291 --> 00:31:34,251 Speaker 6: I think she was looking out. She wanted me to 585 00:31:34,291 --> 00:31:37,491 Speaker 6: make money. She thought she made money and I made money, 586 00:31:37,491 --> 00:31:40,571 Speaker 6: that we'd be happy. And we were for a little 587 00:31:40,851 --> 00:31:41,491 Speaker 6: a little while. 588 00:31:43,131 --> 00:31:46,531 Speaker 1: When Tina was on the stand talking about how Wall 589 00:31:46,611 --> 00:31:48,491 Speaker 1: had brought her into this scheme, she could actually see 590 00:31:48,531 --> 00:31:49,091 Speaker 1: Wah's face. 591 00:31:49,691 --> 00:31:52,091 Speaker 6: I could tell she was kind of mad. So I 592 00:31:52,131 --> 00:31:54,491 Speaker 6: felt kind of bad because we used to be friends. 593 00:31:55,051 --> 00:31:58,371 Speaker 1: Do you think she was hurt or just mad or like, 594 00:31:58,411 --> 00:32:02,571 Speaker 1: what were her feelings for I think both. I think 595 00:32:02,651 --> 00:32:06,171 Speaker 1: she thought that Wall would understand and we talked to 596 00:32:06,211 --> 00:32:07,851 Speaker 1: Wall about what it was like when she was in 597 00:32:07,891 --> 00:32:12,931 Speaker 1: the courtroom, and she thought Tina while Tina was testifying, of. 598 00:32:12,931 --> 00:32:15,371 Speaker 13: Course you don't like it, but what can you do? 599 00:32:16,211 --> 00:32:17,371 Speaker 5: Was your friendship over then? 600 00:32:18,251 --> 00:32:21,211 Speaker 12: I haven't told her since I don't what's her friend? 601 00:32:21,451 --> 00:32:22,611 Speaker 13: I don't even have a number. 602 00:32:27,411 --> 00:32:31,131 Speaker 1: She seemed over it. She seemed like she was like Tina. 603 00:32:30,811 --> 00:32:34,611 Speaker 7: Who Tina, who don't even have her number? 604 00:32:35,011 --> 00:32:37,371 Speaker 1: But I still don't think Tina regrets meeting while. 605 00:32:37,931 --> 00:32:39,651 Speaker 6: You know what, I have none bad to say about 606 00:32:39,691 --> 00:32:42,731 Speaker 6: Hull because she was a good friend. It's just that 607 00:32:42,851 --> 00:32:46,091 Speaker 6: we both chose the wrong road, you know. And then 608 00:32:46,251 --> 00:32:48,811 Speaker 6: after all this happened, she went her way and I 609 00:32:48,851 --> 00:32:49,611 Speaker 6: went my way. 610 00:32:54,171 --> 00:32:57,131 Speaker 1: The trial of Waw and the others took about two weeks, 611 00:32:57,451 --> 00:33:00,171 Speaker 1: and based on the outcome, it seems like Tina was 612 00:33:00,171 --> 00:33:04,571 Speaker 1: a convincing witness. On August thirty first, nineteen eighty eight, 613 00:33:05,011 --> 00:33:08,331 Speaker 1: Wah and her boyfriend Michael Yu were both found guilty 614 00:33:08,411 --> 00:33:11,291 Speaker 1: of conspiring to just to heroin and possessing what the 615 00:33:11,331 --> 00:33:15,731 Speaker 1: intent to distribute, and because of the mandatory minimums, they 616 00:33:15,771 --> 00:33:20,251 Speaker 1: were facing at least ten years in prison. After they 617 00:33:20,291 --> 00:33:23,291 Speaker 1: were found guilty, Waw held out for a few more months, 618 00:33:24,011 --> 00:33:26,691 Speaker 1: but faced with the prospect of a decade maybe more 619 00:33:26,771 --> 00:33:30,691 Speaker 1: in prison, and the end, both she and Fox decided 620 00:33:30,691 --> 00:33:31,371 Speaker 1: to cooperate. 621 00:33:32,291 --> 00:33:34,571 Speaker 9: Michael you saw the writing on the wall, so that's 622 00:33:34,571 --> 00:33:37,811 Speaker 9: when he decided to flip, and you get the benefit 623 00:33:38,211 --> 00:33:41,211 Speaker 9: of a cooperation agreement to lower the time he was 624 00:33:41,251 --> 00:33:42,051 Speaker 9: facing in jail. 625 00:33:43,731 --> 00:33:47,291 Speaker 1: So Beryl started to interview her two new cooperating witnesses 626 00:33:47,491 --> 00:33:50,211 Speaker 1: to get to the top of the ladder. She was 627 00:33:50,251 --> 00:33:54,371 Speaker 1: gathering the information she needed to fashion an indictment against Johnny. 628 00:33:57,051 --> 00:33:59,971 Speaker 1: But Johnny most likely had someone watching the federal docket 629 00:33:59,971 --> 00:34:03,331 Speaker 1: for him. That's this calendar of court proceedings. Back in 630 00:34:03,331 --> 00:34:05,251 Speaker 1: those days, you had to go to the clerk's office 631 00:34:05,291 --> 00:34:08,611 Speaker 1: to see it in person. Whoever was watching could see 632 00:34:08,611 --> 00:34:11,410 Speaker 1: that the next proceed for WAW and Michael Yu were 633 00:34:11,451 --> 00:34:14,411 Speaker 1: not on the schedule. If you're Johnny, you know that 634 00:34:14,491 --> 00:34:15,770 Speaker 1: this can only mean one thing. 635 00:34:16,571 --> 00:34:20,651 Speaker 9: As soon as he found out that Wah and Michael 636 00:34:20,731 --> 00:34:21,931 Speaker 9: Yu had flipped. 637 00:34:21,571 --> 00:34:22,771 Speaker 4: He fled. 638 00:34:24,491 --> 00:34:28,371 Speaker 1: Johnny Yang was nowhere to be found, and everyone who 639 00:34:28,411 --> 00:34:31,651 Speaker 1: had agreed to testify against him or about his scheme 640 00:34:33,131 --> 00:34:42,931 Speaker 1: was now in danger. Coming up next on the chinatownsting. 641 00:34:44,491 --> 00:34:47,971 Speaker 9: My reaction at the time was, oh my god. You know, 642 00:34:48,011 --> 00:34:51,931 Speaker 9: I hope nobody on my watch got hurt and did 643 00:34:52,011 --> 00:34:59,971 Speaker 9: I miss something? Did the agents miss something? About her security? 644 00:35:01,571 --> 00:35:05,011 Speaker 1: The chinatownstan is written and produced by Me Lidy agin 645 00:35:05,091 --> 00:35:09,611 Speaker 1: Kot and reported by me and Shu yu Wang. Your 646 00:35:09,651 --> 00:35:15,331 Speaker 1: producer is Emily Martinez, additional production by Sonya Gerwit. Our 647 00:35:15,451 --> 00:35:19,690 Speaker 1: editor is Julia Barton, with additional editing by Karen Shakherji. 648 00:35:20,731 --> 00:35:25,131 Speaker 1: Our story consultant is wrong Shau Chang. Our executive producer 649 00:35:25,291 --> 00:35:28,931 Speaker 1: is Jacob Smith. Our music was composed by John Sung, 650 00:35:29,931 --> 00:35:33,770 Speaker 1: sound design and additional music by Jake Gorski. Our fact 651 00:35:33,851 --> 00:35:37,331 Speaker 1: checker is Kate Ferby, and our show art was designed 652 00:35:37,371 --> 00:35:42,051 Speaker 1: by Sean Karney. All voiceover work by Tally Leong. For 653 00:35:42,171 --> 00:35:44,891 Speaker 1: more information about this episode, check out our show notes 654 00:35:45,491 --> 00:35:50,891 Speaker 1: or visit Pushkin dot fm slash Chinatown. The ton of 655 00:35:50,931 --> 00:35:54,250 Speaker 1: Toown Stang is a production of Pushkin Industries. To find 656 00:35:54,251 --> 00:35:58,411 Speaker 1: more Pushkin podcasts, listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 657 00:35:58,851 --> 00:36:02,491 Speaker 1: or wherever you like to listen to podcasts.