Johnny Eng

Johnny Eng
Born	c. 1958 (age 66–67) Hong Kong
Other names	Onionhead, Machinegun Johnny
Occupation	Triad member
Spouse	Lori Eng (d. 2011)
Conviction(s)	14 counts of heroin smuggling

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

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

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. "Reputed Gang Leader Gets Prison Term". New York Times: 43. 7 March 1993. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018.
6. 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.
7. "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.
8. 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.