While in custody, Chong appealed the extradition, first claiming he would not receive a fair trial in America on account of his race. When that failed, he claimed that Hong Kong, turned over to the People's Republic of China in 1997, was not a sovereign nation and had no right to extradite him. But that failed too, and last month, U.S. marshals escorted Chong back to this country to stand trial.
"We're obviously grateful Hong Kong decided to do this," says U.S. Attorney Schaefer.
Peter Chong
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Sgt. Foley says the streets grew quieter after the collapse of the Wo Hop To. Aside from a few isolated incidents, "the open violence stopped. There were no more shootings in broad daylight."
But gang activity has continued in Chinatown, with a group calling themselves the Jackson Street Boys. The three brothers who lead the gang, Bobby, Johnny, and Tommy Tsan, began their careers years ago with the Wah Ching, then defected to the Wo Hop To when Chong came to town. The Tsans were among the shooting victims outside the Purple Onion, and later, Bobby Tsan was arrested with Peter Chong for gambling in Portsmouth Square. But the Tsans were never charged when law enforcement swooped down on the Wo Hop To, and since then, they have picked up where their former organization left off, shaking down local merchants and running small-time gambling dens, police and recent gambling and extortion indictments allege.
"It's the same stuff on a smaller scale and without the same visibility," Foley says, "which is a benefit to the community because it's less likely young people will join the gang. The community has really benefited without all these gangsters hanging around."
In March, the U.S. Attorney's Office charged 19 individuals associated with the Jackson Street Boys, including the Tsan brothers, for alleged crimes connected with gambling dens and extortion. Though Foley would not comment on the indictments, law enforcement officials say the arrests were made in an attempt to persuade more people to testify against Chong upon his return.
Chong has appeared in court twice over the past few weeks, represented by attorney Maureen Kallins, who also defended Chow a few years ago in the racketeering case that ended in a mistrial. In her closing arguments of that case, Kallins said Chong was the one the government should be going after, not Chow. She now finds herself in the sticky situation of representing the same man she blamed in a previous trial.
Kallins now argues that the government's case is based on the unreliable testimony of lowlifes who have pleaded guilty to "sweetheart deals," adding in a written argument to Magistrate Wayne Brazil that the government's star witness and "resident psychopath is an admitted gangster, arsonist and witness for hire."
She scoffs at the notion of the Whole Earth Association, dismissing it as the title of a Hong Kong comic book. "It's all an absurd fiction," she says. Her client is a family man, she says, a humble entertainment promoter. "He's basically a very nice guy. His business operations have always been legitimate."
Chong appeared thin and a bit haggard, dressed in red and prison pink, as he appeared in court last week hoping to be released on bail. Kallins told the judge he could be safely released while awaiting trial. Chong is in bad health, suffering from a urinary tract infection, and has no intention of leaving the country, Kallins told the court.
Chong's kids live in the area, Kallins said, and his daughter, Kitty, is in her last year of medical school. Chong would live with Kitty, Kallins says; to be separated from her would be akin to cutting off Chong's right arm.
But prosecutor Schaefer reminded the court that Chong didn't appear especially concerned about his daughters when he was running from the law for years. Facing a life sentence, Chong would have good reason to flee the country again, this time to mainland China, where the United States would have a much more difficult task in bringing him back.
Brazil decided to deny bail and Chong remains in federal custody. Nine years after an arson that went awry, Peter Chong will finally feel the heat.
