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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Chinatown Crime Boss’ Sentencing Postponed

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - A federal judge on Wednesday pushed back the sentencing of Chinatown crime boss Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow indefinitely, but set a trial date for eight of his co-defendants.

In court papers filed before Wednesday's case management conference, the government said it was inclined to try Michael Mei, Rinn Roeun, Barry House, Tina Liang, Jane Liang, Bryan Tilton, Ming Ma and Hon So together, as all were allegedly involved in trafficking firearms and other crimes as part of the criminal enterprise headed by Chow.

The group was rounded up two years ago along with Chow, following a five-year undercover FBI probe into corruption in Chinatown. The investigation also ensnared former Democratic state Sen. Leland Yee, who pleaded guilty to racketeering and was sentenced in February to five years in federal prison. He has until Friday to turn himself in.

In addition to finding that Chow ordered the 2006 fatal shooting of a prominent Chinese businessman, a jury convicted Chow of conspiring to kill a rival gang member and running a criminal enterprise along with 159 counts of money laundering and conspiracy to buy and sell stolen goods.

Chow, 56, was set to be sentenced Wednesday, but U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said he would wait until after Chow's lawyers have made several pending motions. Those motions are due on April 15, but Breyer left the new sentencing date open.

He set a trial date for Chow's eight alleged co-conspirators for Sept. 12.

Four other co-defendants who made plea deals with the government - Andy Li, Joe Chanthavong, Albert Nhingsavath and Norge Mastrangelo - will be sentenced on June 29.

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