Attorney plans appeal in Chinatown crime case

They were apparently thoroughly convinced by the prosecution’s case, built upon a five-year undercover FBI investigation that it seemed, at least at times, Chow might have been aware was happening – an investigation that also ensnared former state senator Leland Yee and former SF school board president Keith Jackson and threatened to snag everyone from Mayor Ed Lee to Joe Montana in its wide net as well.

“He (Chow) was noble in acceptance of defeat”, said J. Tony Serra, Chow’s lead attorney, outside the courtroom.

In 2000, Chow pleaded guilty to racketeering for crimes including heroin and cocaine trafficking, attempted murder and robbery, according to an Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit in Chow’s current case.

Serra and co-counsel Curtis Briggs blamed the jury, the witnesses and U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer for what they claimed was a blatantly unfair trial.

In addition to murder, Chow was also convicted in the aid of racketeering for ordering the killing, racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to murder another rival, conspiracy to traffic in stolen liquor and cigarettes, and money laundering. Sentencing – nearly certain to put Chow, 56, behind bars for life – is scheduled for March 23. His defense attorneys had hammered that point home to the jury.

The notorious, self-described “sun of the underworld” goes by many names: Kwok Cheung Chow, Raymond Chow, Ha Jai or “Shrimp Boy”.

Asked Friday whether the defense had erred by letting Chow take the stand in his own defense, Serra replied, “When a person is innocent, they want to take the stand – they demand to take the stand”. “He smiled, he was not unnerved, he shook all of our hands… and he said we’ll win on the second round, referring to the appellate process”. Chow’s lawyers say the money was foisted on him with no proof he was involved in committing crimes. One of the victims was Allen Leung, the former leader of the fraternal group, who was shot and killed at his business in 2006 as his wife looked on.

Chow is also accused of soliciting the murder of Jim Tat Kong, a member of a San Francisco street gang.

The undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation agent testified that he spent hours with Chow and people connected to him at fancy restaurants and nightclubs, recording many of their conversations.

This trial follows on the heels of Chow’s other legal troubles more than 15 years ago.