Six Chinese indicted in illegal gambling
A grand jury yesterday indicted anew six Chinese nationals on illegal gambling charges, replacing initial indictment handed down last September in connection with the operations of their business in the Garapan tourist district.
Liu Jun Wei alias “A-Wei,” Tam Pan “Bing Ge,” Huang Hui Men “A-Huang,” Chen Cheng Zhan “A-Chen,” Cai Zai Ming “A-Ming,” and Chen Yung Yao “Daryl Chen” are now facing four counts in the U.S. District Court.
They are conspiracy to conduct an illegal gambling business, conducting an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to launder money and money laundering.
The initial indictment charged them with seven counts, including racketeering and assault charges. They had pled not guilty during their arraignment last September.
Based on court documents, the alleged illegal gambling operations involving beto-beto , baccarat and big & small games began on July 1997 and continued until August of this year.
The suspects set up the business on the second floor where Poon Restaurant is located in Garapan after Mr. Liu and Mr. Chen made an agreement with an unindicted co-conspirator Lam Kwong Yau alias “Albert Lam,” according to the documents.
Mr. Lam ended his association in the partnership in January 1998. Then, the two remaining partners hired Mr. Huang to work for the illegal gambling until August 7, 200, the complaint stated.
Mr. Liu, on the other hand, employed Chen Cheng Zhan to help in his business known as the VIP Casino, also located in Garapan. On May 4, 1999, Mr. Cai assaulted Mr. Lam to keep him from participating in setting up a competing illegal gambling business, it added.
On the money laundering charges, federal prosecutors alleged the six defendants converted monetary instruments received by the illegal gambling business into cash proceeds.
These involved 11 checks drawn on the Hip Shing (Saipan), Inc. account in Bank of Hawaii that had been tendered by patrons in order to gamble at the VIP Casino, which were deposited into Mr. Huang’s account in City Trust Bank, the complaint said. (BS)
