Leader of a Violent Chinatown-Based Criminal Organization Pleads Guilty in Racketeering Case in Manhattan Federal Court

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that WEN MING LIN, a/k/a "Yi Mai," one of the leaders of a violent Asian criminal organization operating out of Manhattan's Chinatown—called the Banya Organization, after the village in China from which a number of organization members came—pleaded guilty on April 16, 2010, before United States District Judge RICHARD J. HOLWELL to various charges, including racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, extortion, assaults in aid of racketeering, and operating illegal gambling businesses. Another member of the Banya Organization, ZHAU LIN, a/k/a "Big Flower," a/k/a "Duai Hua," also pleaded guilty on April 16, 2010, to charges of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, and extortion.

Eleven other members of the Banya Organization have previously pleaded guilty in this case to various charges, including racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, extortion, illegal gambling, and assaults in aid of racketeering. One other defendant, JIAN LIANG LIN, a/k/a "Cousin," a/k/a "Lo Biu," is presently awaiting trial.

As alleged in the Indictment, the Banya Organization was a violent criminal enterprise based in the Chinatown section of Manhattan and the Flushing section of Queens. Members of the Banya Organization preserved its power, territory, and financial profits by controlling both illegal and legitimate businesses, through the use of intimidation, threats of violence, and actual violence, including administering assaults using hammers and other weapons.

Among other things, WEN MING LIN and ZHAU LIN were involved in extortions of the owners of two interstate bus companies operating from the Chinatown section of Manhattan. Employees of both companies were assaulted by WEN MING LIN in furtherance of these extortions.

WEN MING LIN, 38, faces a maximum sentence of 145 years in prison and ZHAU LIN, 32, faces a maximum sentence of 100 years in prison.

Mr. BHARARA praised the work of the Asian Criminal Enterprise Task Force, which is comprised of agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and detectives of the New York City Police Department, in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

This case is being prosecuted by the Office's Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys STEVE C. LEE and DANIEL S. GOLDMAN are in charge of the prosecution.