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Heroin Suspect Laughs At Trial Reputed gang leader Newsday; 12/3/1992; Peg Tyre Newsday 12-03-1992 Heroin Suspect Laughs At Trial Reputed gang leader By Peg Tyre. STAFF WRITER Johnny Eng, reputed ex-leader of the Chinatown-based Flying Dragons gang, shows no sign of worry as he sits through his trial on charges of masterminding an international heroin importing scheme. Prosecutors in Brooklyn federal court say there's a mountain of evidence against the man nicknamed Onionhead. There's 300 pounds of heroin shipped to New York in stuffed animals, strapped to couriers and sealed in steel machines used to wash bean sprouts. But Eng's lawyer, Gerald Shargel, noted for his work on John Gotti's defense, has raised questions about the credibility of witnesses who tie the heroin to Eng. Although Eng faces life in prison without parole, he's been quick to smile and laugh during the 3-week-old trial, prompting U.S. District Court Judge Reena Raggi to reprimand him for mocking a witness. Law enforcement authorities say that Eng, who came to this country at age 13 from Hong Kong, is believed to be a multi-millionaire, with financial interests in Hong Kong, farms in Pennsylvania and land in South America. Sources say he took over the Flying Dragons, a violent Asian gang known for extortion and kidnaping, after his predecessor was shot in the eyes in the doorway of the Hip Sing credit union in the spring of 1983. At the root of the government's case is potent high-quality heroin that arrived in New York and Los Angeles in 1989 from Hong Kong. Some of it arrived at Kennedy Airport in special belts worn by couriers, some of it was shipped along with stuffed animals, aromatic peppers and tea, enforcement officials said. The rest of it arrived in the United States sealed inside beansprout washing machines, which resemble car mufflers, and was shipped to a restaurateur. The operation has been described by witness Wah Tom Lee, who worked in a Flying Dragon gambling parlor on Pell Street in Chinatown. Lee testified that her boyfriend, Michael Yu, got her into the heroin-importing business so she could work off a $20,000 gambling debt. According to her testimony, Lee found couriers to carry heroin from Hong Kong to a washroom at Kennedy Airport for Eng. She also carried $600,000 in cash in a suitcase from New York to Hong Kong for Eng, she said. She testified that in appreciation, Eng sent her and Yu on an all-expense paid trip to Club Med in Indonesia. Lee testified that she then began arranging for packages of heroin hidden in tea, peppers and stuffed animals to be sent to friends but the scheme was ended when U.S. Customs intercepted the drugs. News Topics | Home | Research | History | Blood Gangs | Crip Gangs | People| Life in a Gang | Gallery | Iraqi Cards | Memorial | Migration | Graffiti | Resume| Injunctions Homicides | Maps | California Prisons | Contact

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