Joe Isgro & Chinese Mafia Stories: Update

It is funny what stories the mainstream media will pick up and what they won't.  I have written about Shrimp Boy the Dragonhead of Chee Kung Tong and California State Senator Leeland Yee.  This past week they have been charged in a superseding indictment with even more felony counts but the media chooses not to give it much coverage. The new indictment raises the charge count from 50 to 228 against the same people. Shrimp Boy, Leeland Yee and Keith Jackson are among those now charged with racketeering in the indictment. Chinese Triads may not be as sexy as Mexican Cartels or Gangs, but they are much more dangerous.  The Chee Kung Tong is hundreds of years old with more members worldwide and much more diverse when it comes to criminal activity. It has become clear that Shrimp Boy had worked with Leeland Yee to advance his Criminal Enterprise.  The Tong was involved in illegal gambling, drug distribution and selling contraband cigarettes.  They used many
ways to launder the proceeds of the enterprise because the cash that was rolling in was staggering.  Leeland, along with Keith Jackson, used his various campaigns to solicit bribes.  He even wanted to shake down the NFL by using his influence with the California Athletic Commission to change rules regarding out-of-state athletes.  He also sought to extort cash from MMA Promotions that wished to operate in California. The worst thing that he conspired to (along with Keith Jackson and a dentist) was to sell weapons from an arms dealer to FBI sources.


I am sure that as this unfolds we will find out much more about how deep this conspiracy goes.  They will take some plea deal down the road and this will all be forgotten, but this is the future.  China is taking on a bigger role around the world as an economic power and this means many more Triad member's around the world.

On Thursday the Joe Isgro story hit the news, and sure enough, he was arrested for taking part in a Gambino family bookmaking ring that had an 8 year run starting in 2005. Part of the charges stem from gambling rings using a Bookmaking software program that keeps track of bets, bettors, games, odds and who owes what. The Arizona software company had licensed it out for a fee and when he was arrested for promoting gambling he agreed to cooperate.  He later changed his mind and decided to fight it.  The NYPD had already gone through the company records and they knew who the players were.  Joe had been inducted into the family by John Gotti Jr, but he now has a new Capo in the family.


The whole arrest for gambling is kind of weak.  Most people who get caught pay a small fine.  If you stop to think about it, people bet on all kinds of sporting events.  Even Obama spoke about his brackets during March Madness.  All professional sports use odds, otherwise everyone would stop watch before the end of games if their team was losing.  Monday night football is popular so bettors can make up for a weekend of losses.


I am no Joe Isgro fan, the guy is loud and a bragger but this is a waste. A lot of States have "Numbers"  Aka Lottery and OTB-Off Track Betting and yet they never seem to make a profit?  Here in California they were supposed to pay for the schools and yet every year the Politico's keep come back to us for more taxes for the kids.


I do see Law Enforcement's point because Bookmaking is the bread and butter of the Mafia.  The Gambling enables them to work in many rackets including Joe Isgro's Shylocking.  Even the Genovese have taken hits lately for bookmaking.  Last week in New Jersey a couple of them plead guilty to running a gambling ring.

Joe Isgro plead not guilty, posted a $250,000 bond and was released.

I'll keep you posted on both of these stories.

Blog Updates: Nicodemo Scarfo Jr, Alicia Garofalo, Shrimp Boy Chow

This week is an update to earlier blog posts.

Nicodemo Scarfo Jr. is the son of Philadelphia Mafia Boss Nicky Scarfo Sr. and a made member of the Lucchese Family.  Nicodemo has been a forward thinker in the Mafia world because he was among the first to use computers and encryption to evade the FBI.  He used computers to run his bookmaking and shylocking business and then he went into the corporate take-over business.

Nicodemo and friends used Mafia tactics to take over Irving, Texas based First Plus Financial Group, a mortgage company.  They gained control of the board using threats and other means and then they proceeded to loot the company of 12 million dollars in less than a year.  They used shell companies owned by Nicodemo and friends to bill for work that they did not need or want.  Then, after they were successful, they bought more companies and stole even more.  They were caught on wiretaps speaking to Nicky Scarfo Sr. and Lucchese Family Boss Vic Amuso about the scheme.  In one recording Nicodemo was caught telling his father, "They were a good 6 to 10 months off from helping everyone."  “Everyone” meant other Mafia associates.  I am sure both the elder Scarfo and Boss Amuso got their end first.  Nicodemo used the cash to by homes,  jewelry, weapons and a yacht which they named "Priceless".  This scheme made them 12 million plus and Nicodemo's Bookmaking made them a pile before this arrest. He is a forward thinker and a moneymaker, but the one thing I do not understand is why buy a huge house, cars and that yacht. He had to know that the FBI was going to be busting down their doors and seize all their newly acquired showy wealth.  Why not not bury the cash and then when you get caught claim poverty, take a deal, get out in 10 years and still have some hidden cash to show for it. This time Nicodemo is facing 20 years but he will probably not get the full sentence.

The next up is Alicia Garofalo the wife of Colombo Associate Eddie Garofalo.  Eddie pled out and took a deal so his wife did not have to suffer as much as him.  The problem is that Alicia then became a cast member on the TV show “Mob Wives.”  In her pre-sentencing memorandum she claims that she only took the gig to provide for her children.  The Feds countered this by rightly saying that she was glorifying the life. They are right, why should she get to profit from the life and not have to pay, unlike her husband. Her defense team claims that she was showing how bad the life was and what it does to families.  I could tell from her parties in Las Vegas and other places, running around with the cast members places that she was trying to show how bad the life is for her.  When I was wearing a wire inside the mobile home that served as Big R Trucking's office she was on the phone with Eddie billing for his other company T&E or “Teddy and Eddie,” their heavy equipment company.  She grew up in the area and knew who the Persicos were and what they do. She was not innocent or a victim.

Even before I was no longer in Brooklyn I knew they had gone up on the phones and had caught her speaking about the business.  Steve Marcus, who flipped after me, continued to give them probable cause to investigate Alicia.  

I hope the judge does not buy all the crap in her Memorandum and gives her some time and at least a 100k fine.  Unlike others who deal drugs or even Nicodemo Scarfo who stole from a company, she stole from hardworking Union members health and pension benefits.  I love how her lawyers have to point out what a hard life she has had because her father died when she was young and she is a single mother of three children.  Somehow through all that hardship she was able to enjoy the good life with Eddie: taking vacations, gambling, going out on his speed boat and having an affair.  Poor Alicia.

Now for Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow, the Dragon head or “Dai Lo” of the Chee Kung Tong (centuries old Chinese Triad or Mafia). Shrimp Boy had a bail hearing and his lawyer the great Tony Serra put together 10 character witnesses who testified that he was a changed man and sought to help the community.  He was against violence or at least the kind he did not approve.  The FBI countered that it was act and that he was a danger to the community because he was the leader and was in command of a lot of criminals.  They claim to have more than enough evidence to show that he was and is a very dangerous criminal that sought to sell stolen goods, murder and launder money.  The judge agreed with the US Attorney and ordered Shrimp Boy be held without bail.  The one thing I find wrong with this case is Senator Leeland Yee’s involvement.  This is a man that gained the public trust and swore that he would do what is right for the people of the State of California.  He voted for gun control and against violent video games, yet he was at the same time making deals to buy military weapons from Philippine Muslim Terrorists and turning around to sell them for cash.  He is right there in pictures with the criminal Shrimp Boy and yet he gets bail?  He should be the one locked up because he was pretending to be a good guy, and he clearly was not.

Chinese Mafia

A Chinese Triad Funeral

This is a little different from the stories I normally blog about, but it is too good to pass up.  It has it all: Federal Agents Undercover as Sicilian drug dealers, a gun pedaling State Senator who wants more gun control and a one time snitch claiming to be reformed who is really a Mafia boss!  Hollywood could not have come up with  a story like this.

First a history lesson: the Cosa Nostra is at best 150 years old, but the Chinese Triads are over 400 years old.  

The Chee Kung Tong or CKT is a San Francisco based off-shoot of the Hung Mun which was formed in China in the mid 17th Century. It was started as a Revolutionary group to overthrow the Qing Dynasty that ruled China 1644 till 1911, so this is a long period to be fighting.   In the Mid to Late 19th Century the Hung Mun began to immigrate to the United States.  When they came, they brought with them their customs and rituals.  They formed secret societies that became known as Tongs in the US.  Some of these Tongs worked to help the Chinese in their communities, but many used their power to control vice such as prostitution, gambling, Loan Sharking and the importation of heroin.

Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow

The strongest was known as Chee Gung Tong or Chee Kung Tong and it would not really be looked at by Law Enforcement until 2006 when the former “Dragonhead” or Boss, Allen Leung. was murdered in San Francisco.  A Dragonhead holds what is known as a 489 position (dealing with Chinese Lucky Numbers) in the International Triads, which signifies supreme authority within the organization.

Let me introduce you to the Dragonhead of the Chee Kung Tong today,  Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow.  Known as Dai Lo or Big Brother to normal people on the street, Shrimp Boy holds the 489 position the Triad.  Shrimp Boy is, or was until recently, the leader of the Hop Sing Gang in San Fransisco's Chinatown with 200-300 members.  

According to Chow he joined a Triad in China at age 9.  A few years later, at 16, he would emigrate to San Fransisco where he would join a street gang. He would spend time in San Quentin for armed robbery and upon his release he would join the WoHop To Triad where he would run heroin distribution, prostitution and gambling for them during the 1980's.

He became right hand man to a man named  Peter Chong who was sent to unite the Triads all over the world.  In 1995 Shrimp Boy was given 24 years, but in 2000 Peter Chong was captured by the Chinese authorities and extradited to the US.  Shrimp Boy agreed to testify against him and when he was finished he was given a reduced sentence and released by 2003.  

Shrimp Boy has a long history of landing on his feet.  If anyone reading this has seen the movie “Year of the Dragon,” they will recognize the scene of this shooting that Shrimp boy was present for.  In the early morning hours of September 4, 1977, members of a Chinatown gang called The Joe Boys stormed into The Golden Dragon restaurant in San Francisco and opened fire with two semi automatic weapons and a shotgun.  They were after their enemy: the Wah Ching, who were aligned with the owners of the Golden Dragon, the Hip Sing Tong.  They would kill 5 people and wound 11 more, but Shrimp Boy was unhurt.

Senator Leland Yee

The Senator Aka Leland Yee, aka “Uncle” Leland, is a 65 year old California State Senator who represents district 8 which covers San Mateo and parts of San Francisco.

He once ran for Mayor of San Francisco and lost.  He was also running for Secretary of State.  Keith Jackson was a political consultant who was running Leland Yee's campaign for Secretary of State.  He was giving cash donations above the 500 dollar limits and one of these was from the Chee Kung Tong. Leland Yee would then present letters to the CKT.  He also agreed to help an Undercover Agent posing as a Arizona Medical Marijuana business owner who wanted to do business in California.

Keith Jackson then told the Undercover Agent that Leland Yee had a contact that was bringing in some illegal arms to through the Port of Newark in New Jersey.

Shrimp Boy receiving a "Certificate of Honor"
from Senator Yee, wearing his Triad Clothing

Leland Yee is one of the people who screamed very loud that we need strict gun laws such a bullet button ban.  The bullet button is a button that releases the magazine on a semi automatic weapon.  This goes to show you how full of crap these politicians really can be. They want to stop people who obey the law from having weapons to protect themselves.  A criminal does not care about what gun law is in place he will get one and use it. So why do these guys like Leland Yee try to pass this crap?  They scare those who do not know better, they suppress stories when a legal gun owner protect themselves using a gun.  Why?  So they can reap the rewards from those with the guns.

The FBI had undercover agents and CHS Confidential Human Sources give Leland Yee cash for favors.  They had Shrimp Boy and associates launder cash from supposed illicit activity such as drug trafficking and gambling.  The indictment is over 100 pages long but these men have great lawyers.  

They are not as sexy as the Italian Mafia, Shrimp Boy is a 5’5” chubby man and Leland Yee looks like an older Chinese businessman.  The Triads are so successful because they fly under the radar.   They can bring in 40 kilos of Heroin a year for 30 years  and never get greedy or flashy.  They buy buildings, help the community, keep the peace, send kids to college.  

I will post more as these men go to trial.