U.S. v. Lin Guang, 05-4724 (2nd Cir., Dec 13, 2007)

This criminal appeal involves a colorful character who would be more at home in a Sopranos episode than in a Second Circuit decision. Defendant Shi Yong Wei owned a Manhattan gift shop called “No. 1 Gift Shop.” But the gift shop wasn’t “number one” in price or selection; instead, the shop’s self-proclaimed popularity was a result of Shi’s campaign of terror against competing gift shops, Chinese tour guides, and area restaurants. Among other things, Shi and his gang of “little brothers” brutally attacked guides who did not steer tourists his way, and several victims ended up leaving the tour business because it was so dangerous.

Shi and one of his little brothers were convicted of extortion, given stiff sentences, and ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to the guides and gift shop owners that they put out of business. On appeal, the Second Circuit affirms with an opinion that reads an awful lot like a Brad Grey script. I hope HBO is paying attention.

Posted Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:03:40 and filed under Decision of the Day. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.