Diamond Lils (Seattle) Dealer Arrested

KJS · #1 09-19-2002, 05:28 PM

From a Wed. Seattle P-I article:

"Federal agents and Seattle police say they have broken up a sophisticated ring that has for years lured young women from Asia with the promise of a better life in the United States, only to make them virtual sex slaves in brothels in Seattle and Portland.

Five Seattle men, a man from Portland and a man and a woman from Los Angeles were arrested Tuesday night in the culmination of a two-year investigation that was complicated by the extraordinary secrecy of the brothel operators, John McKay, U.S. attorney for Western Washington, said at a news conference yesterday....

The Seattle suspects -- Johnny Cong Wu, Phui Dang, Shek Yu Ng, De Qin Zhang and He Qingping -- yesterday appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle, where they were charged with transporting individuals to commit prostitution and conspiracy to commit such a crime...

Little is known about the men, although Wu, who gave his age as 42 on the rental application, worked until recently as a poker dealer at Diamond Lil's Casino in Renton. An employee there confirmed that Wu worked at the casino for two years, but has been on a leave of absence for the past five months."

Full text: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/87681_fbi19.shtml

I can't picture this particular dealer but I am sure Lils (and other local rooms) are buzzing today. Anyone have a description of Johnny Wu?

KJS

snakehead · #2 09-19-2002, 06:55 PM

no pictures or addresses of the brothels? [img]/forums/images/icons/smirk.gif[/img]

KJS · #3 09-19-2002, 07:14 PM

There are pictures, follow the link. Both the Seattle ones were in highrise apartment buildings. One was about 1/2 mile from my place.

KJS

bernie · #4 09-19-2002, 10:30 PM

my brother dom told me about this today. haha

i might know the guy if i saw him, but the name doesnt ring a bell. ill be watching for a pic in the paper....

but $120 an hour is like $30 bucks off the normal isnt it?

er...just wonderin....hahahaha

b

HDPM · #5 09-19-2002, 10:38 PM

Kinda sad that trafficking in people appears to carry less than trafficking in meth, huh? I don't know the federal sentencing guidelines, but I know a lot of dope cases carry more than a 35 year max. Maybe they have a problem w/ evidence or something and can't make more serious charges stick or something. At least I hope that is the reason for the 35 year max.