San Gabriel Valley Extortion Probe Leads to 5 Arrests

Five men were arrested Monday on charges of extorting money from companies that distribute fresh seafood to Asian restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley.

The men demanded that TL Trading Co. of Montebello and Wo Wong Fish Trading Co. of Rosemead pay $600 a truckload to ensure the “safe” delivery of the fish, according to a federal complaint.

Accused of interfering with interstate commerce by extortion were Sinh Slue, 25, Zhen Li, 35, Jing Deng, 46, Kevin Hau, 23, and Mang Lun Tso, 46, all of the San Gabriel Valley.

An affidavit filed in connection with the arrests said the suspects threatened to kill the businessmen, fired bullets into their trucks and poured motor oil into tanks containing live fish as part of the extortion.

After refusing to pay them, businessman Wo Wong found members of the extortion ring waiting for him when he drove to Crescent City, Calif., to pick up a load of fish, according to the affidavit.

They blocked his truck from leaving but he managed to get away with the help of a local fisherman, the government document said.

A few days later, however, he was yanked from the cab of his truck, forced into a bathroom and beaten. Fearing for the safety of his family, Wong contacted the Sheriff’s Department, which fitted him with a concealed tape recorder that he wore during subsequent meetings with the suspects.

During one tape-recorded meeting, the affidavit said, one member said the gang intended to take control of the wholesale fish business in the San Gabriel Valley, raising and fixing prices to all restaurants.

The arrests were the result of a joint investigation by the Sheriff’s Department, the FBI, the U.S. attorney’s office and the district attorney’s office.