Judge Denny Chin serves on the US Court of Appeals in New York and he’s an expert on Asian Americans and the law. Every year, he helps to stage reenactments of landmark cases in which Asian Americans fought for their legal and civil rights. Judge Chin speaks with Lidia Jean Kott about his family history and why he became a judge.

Judge Denny Chin serves on the US Court of Appeals in New York and he&rsquo;s an expert on Asian Americans and the law. Every year, he helps to stage reenactments of landmark cases in which Asian Americans fought for their legal and civil rights. Judge Chin speaks with Lidia Jean Kott about his family history and why he became a judge.

In the late 1980s, a group of women connected through the mahjong parlors in Manhattan’s Chinatown were caught in a massive undercover drug bust. This bust was just the beginning of an even bigger case. Host Lidia Jean Kott and co-reporter Shuyu Wang interview sources who’ve never spoken on record before, including witnesses, defendants, and federal prosecutors, to reconstruct a case that still has repercussions today.

The Chinatown Sting drops weekly on Tuesdays.

Get early, ad-free access to the entire season of The Chinatown Sting by subscribing to Pushkin+. Subscribers also get bonus episodes, exclusive binges, full audiobooks, and early ad-free listening for all Pushkin shows. 

Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkin
Subscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plus 

In the late 1980s, a group of women connected through the mahjong parlors in Manhattan&rsquo;s Chinatown were caught in a massive undercover drug bust. This bust was just the beginning of an even bigger case. Host Lidia Jean Kott and co-reporter Shuyu Wang interview sources who&rsquo;ve never spoken on record before, including witnesses, defendants, and federal prosecutors, to reconstruct a case that still has repercussions today.
The Chinatown Sting drops weekly on Tuesdays.
<hr>
Get early, ad-free access to the entire season of The Chinatown Sting by subscribing to <a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin">Pushkin+</a>. Subscribers also get bonus episodes, exclusive binges, full audiobooks, and early ad-free listening for all Pushkin shows.&nbsp;
Subscribe on Apple: <a href="http://apple.co/pushkin">apple.co/pushkin</a> Subscribe on Pushkin: <a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin">pushkin.fm/plus</a>&nbsp;

The Chinatown Sting

Grandson of a Paper Son

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/516355d4-2ca8-4b40-a65a-b383012a28bd/transcript

Cowboy, now known as CB, was once a member of the powerful Flying Dragons gang, led by Johnny Eng, aka Onionhead. CB speaks with Lidia Jean Kott about why he joined the gang, about street-violence PTSD, and how he wound up in prison for 16 years. He also has an update on what Johnny Eng is up to today. 

Cowboy, now known as CB, was once a member of the powerful Flying Dragons gang, led by Johnny Eng, aka Onionhead. CB speaks with Lidia Jean Kott about why he joined the gang, about street-violence PTSD, and how he wound up in prison for 16 years. He also has an update on what Johnny Eng is up to today.&nbsp;

Life as a Flying Dragon

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9d862eed-bfb6-40b8-a82a-b37c0182a97e/transcript

After five days of deliberation, a jury finally returns a verdict in the case of Johnny Eng. Its ultimate meaning depends on whom you ask — and the lessons it taught the justice system may already be forgotten.

For more:

Mike Moy’s memoir book Bad to Blue and his Chinatown Gang Stories channel on YouTube.

Rong Xiaoqing’s article in Documented, "Ghosts of Chinatown."

After five days of deliberation, a jury finally returns a verdict in the case of Johnny Eng. Its ultimate meaning depends on whom you ask &mdash;&nbsp;and the lessons it taught the justice system may already be forgotten.
For more:
Mike Moy&rsquo;s memoir book <a href="https://www.blackstonepublishing.com/products/book-h8ar">Bad to Blue</a> and his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@chinatowngangstories">Chinatown Gang Stories</a> channel on YouTube.
Rong Xiaoqing&rsquo;s article in&nbsp;Documented, <a href="https://documentedny.com/2025/09/12/ghosts-of-chinatown-gang-crime/">"Ghosts of Chinatown."</a>

Episode 6: A Sense of Order

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2150fd56-45f4-4b55-91d2-b35b010cfbdb/transcript

Flying Dragons gang leader Johnny Eng faces so many separate counts of heroin smuggling that prosecutors from various jurisdictions have to join forces. But Eng’s defense lawyers ably attack the government’s cooperating witnesses in court. And Beryl faces a personal deadline that might make sticking around to the end of the trial impossible.

For more check out: 

Gerald Posner’s book Warlords of Crime.

Fredric Dannen’s pieces in The New Yorker, "Revenge of the Green Dragons” and “Defending the Mafia.”

Get early, ad-free access to the entire season of The Chinatown Sting by subscribing to Pushkin+. Subscribers also get bonus episodes, exclusive binges, full audiobooks, and early ad-free listening for all Pushkin shows. 

Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkin

Subscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.com/plus

Flying Dragons gang leader Johnny Eng faces so many separate counts of heroin smuggling that prosecutors from various jurisdictions have to join forces. But Eng&rsquo;s defense lawyers ably attack the government&rsquo;s cooperating witnesses in court. And Beryl faces a personal deadline that might make sticking around to the end of the trial impossible.
For more check out:&nbsp;
Gerald Posner&rsquo;s book&nbsp;<a href="https://www.posner.com/warlords-of-crime">Warlords of Crime</a>.
Fredric Dannen&rsquo;s pieces in&nbsp;The New Yorker, <a href="https://www.ledegraf.com/classic-new-yorker/revenge-of-the-green-dragons/">"Revenge of the Green Dragons</a>&rdquo; and <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1994/02/21/defending-the-mafia">&ldquo;Defending the Mafia.&rdquo;</a>
<hr>
Get early, ad-free access to the entire season of The Chinatown Sting by subscribing to Pushkin+. Subscribers also get bonus episodes, exclusive binges, full audiobooks, and early ad-free listening for all Pushkin shows.&nbsp;
Subscribe on Apple: <a href="http://apple.co/pushkin">apple.co/pushkin</a>
Subscribe on Pushkin: <a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin">pushkin.com/plus</a>

Episode 5: The Mastermind

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e9234cc1-3aa0-484d-b93d-b35b0105f833/transcript

Grandson of a Paper Son

The Chinatown Sting

In 1 playlist(s)

The Chinatown Sting

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips