Johnny Eng
Johnny Eng | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1958 (age 65–66) |
| Other names | Onionhead, Machinegun Johnny |
| Occupation | Triad member |
| Spouse | Lori Eng (d. 2011) |
| Conviction(s) |
|
Johnny Eng (born ca. 1958) (Chinese: 伍少衡; Jyutping: ng5 siu3 hang4), also known as Onionhead (Chinese: 蔥頭; Jyutping: cung1 tau4) or Machinegun Johnny,[1] is a Hong Kong-born American gang leader and drug trafficker. Eng was the former head (dai-lo) of the Flying Dragons gang in New York City.
Criminal history
[edit]Eng was arrested at least five times in the 1970s on various criminal charges.[1] In 1983, Eng became the leader of the Flying Dragons.[2] By 1988, he had moved into the heroin trade in Manhattan's Chinatown. A confidential report issued by the Justice Department called Eng "one of the five major heroin dealers in New York City."[1]
Eng, a native of Hong Kong,[3] fled back there in 1989 to avoid prosecution.[1] He was arrested there later that year. Eng fought extradition for nearly three years, but was brought to the United States in 1991.[4] In December 1992, Eng was convicted of 14 counts of heroin smuggling and conspiracy.[3]
In March 1993, Eng was sentenced to 24 years in prison and fined $3,500,000 by Federal District Court judge Reena Raggi.[5] The government also confiscated Eng's 200-acre estate in Newfoundland, Pennsylvania, which was reported to have been used for machine gun practice by members of the Flying Dragons.[6][7] He was released several years early on 8 November 2010.
Murder of wife
[edit]On July 13, 2011, Eng's wife Lori Eng (Chinese: 伍羅美玲) was fatally shot by another Flying Dragons member, David Chea (Chinese: 謝錦徵), at her apartment in Flushing, Queens, New York. Chea then committed suicide.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Butterfield, Fox (4 Mar 1989). "A New Gang's Violent Role in Chinatown". New York Times: 29. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022.
- ^ Chin, Ko-lin (16 February 2000). Chinatown Gangs: Extortion, Enterprise, and Ethnicity. Oxford University Press. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-19-513627-2. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
- ^ a b Lubasch, Arnold H. (15 December 1992). "Ex-Head of Chinatown Gang Is Guilty of Leading Drug Ring". New York Times: B3. Archived from the original on December 25, 2022.
- ^ Faison, Seth (12 April 1994). "Chinatown Gang Leader to Be Returned to U.S". New York Times: B1. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018.
- ^ "Reputed Gang Leader Gets Prison Term". New York Times: 43. 7 March 1993. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018.
- ^ James, George (22 November 1994). "33 Suspected Chinatown Gang Members Are Indicted: Racketeering charges are called major blow to the Flying Dragons". New York Times: B1. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022.
- ^ "United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Johnny Eng, Claimant-appellant, certain Real Property and Premises, Known as 218 Pantherstreet Newfoundland, Pennsylvania, 69 Gauldy Avenue, Statenisland, New York, and 21 Norman Drive, Staten Island, Newyork, Certain Honda All-terrain Vehicles, Yamahasnowmobiles, a Certain Yong Chang, G185 Piano, Serial Number004201, Defendants, 951 F.2d 461 (2d Cir. 1991)". Archived from the original on 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
- ^ Mongelli, Lorena (14 July 2011). "Heated argument ends in murder-suicide in Queens". New York Post. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2012.