Subject: RICO and the Mann.

   10/27/00 - Members of Asian Crime Ring Indicted
   14 members of an Asian crime ring allegedly headed by Hung The "Kevin"
   Dong were indicted in Los Angeles on federal charges including
   prostitution and racketeering. Authorities were able to show that the
   group operates as an "ongoing criminal organization," making Dong's
   syndicate the first Asian organized crime group to be prosecuted using
   statutes within RICO.
   Dateline - October 28, 2000
   LOS ANGELES - Pursuant to an FBI investigation dubbed "Operation Lucky
   Money," 14 alleged members of an Asian organized crime ring were
   indicted Friday on charges ranging from running a prostitution ring to
   credit card fraud. Authorities say the investigation and arrests gave a
   much clearer view of the activities of Asian crime rings, which are
   currently considered the most dangerous and efficient crime enterprises
   in the United States.
   James V. DeSarno, Jr., head of the FBI's Southern California operations
   said Friday, "We see violence, we see prostitution, we see money
   laundering, not unlike what we saw in the early days of organized
   crime."
   The indictments and arrests are the result of an ongoing joint
   investigation by FBI agents in Los Angeles and Las Vegas and the Las
   Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
   Hung The "Kevin" Dong (a.k.a. "Big Brother"), alleged boss of the
   group, was arrested Friday along with eight associates. Also arrested
   were Chooi Lu, Dong's girlfriend and alleged manager of the crime
   syndicate's prostitution ring, Tan Minh Ly (a.k.a. "Payday"), reputed
   to be the organization's top weapons trafficker, David Huang Wei,
   Johnny Chi Lee, Vincent Huang Wei, Boy Lai, Hector Barcenas and Binh
   Quoc Trinh.
   The other five individuals named in the indictment are considered
   fugitives and are actively being sought. Included on the list
   individuals who eluded authorities Friday is Dong An, who is also
   wanted on murder charges related to the crime ring's activities.
   The 38-count indictment charges members of the San Gabriel Valley-based
   crime syndicate with money laundering, credit card fraud, armed
   robbery, home invasions, prostitution, murder, armed robbery and drug
   trafficking. The gang members are also accused of importing women from
   Malaysia, Mexico and other locations into the United States and forcing
   them into prostitution.
   Dong's syndicate allegedly ran dozens of brothels throughout Las Vegas
   and Southern California, with each brothel bringing in tens of
   thousands of dollars each month. Gang members would allegedly force the
   women to work in one brothel for a few months, then transport her to
   another and another, in what amounts to a violation of the Mann Act,
   "transporting women for illegal sexual activity," also known as "white
   slavery."
   More importantly, authorities announced at a press conference on Friday
   that, through the use of wiretaps and undercover operatives, they were
   able to ascertain that the group operated with a highly structured
   management and may be considered, for prosecutorial purposes, an
   "ongoing criminal organization." The consequence of such a discovery is
   that federal prosecutors were able to make the decision to prosecute
   Dong and his associates using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
   Organizations Act, or RICO, which carries much heavier prison sentences
   on conviction than do most white-collar crime statutes.
   DeSarno said, "That's the goal, to use racketeering statutes to
   dismantle this organization."
   The nine individuals arrested Friday remain in custody and will make
   their first court appearance on Monday. They are scheduled to be
   arraigned on November 6 at the United States District Court in Los
   Angeles.Thats around the time I get my next 'mention'.I really hope
   this is it,cos I miss my jimmy Dell.
   Latest mention...sept 11.