The Snakehead

by Patrick Radden Keefe

  212 When Ah Kay’s telephone calls: Interview with Konrad Motyka and Bill McMurry, December 15, 2005.

  212 In New York, Rettler was told: Interview with Luke Rettler, July 26, 2007.

  212 Standing six feet tall: Unless otherwise noted, all details relating to the Fat Man, Dickson Yao, are drawn from an interview with Richard LaMagna, July 17, 2008; and from James Mills, The Underground Empire (New York: Dell, 1986), pp. 36, 46, 47, 188–201. Yao was still alive when Mills’s book came out, and to protect his identity, Mills used a pseudonym, Robert Yang, though he also used Yao’s actual code name, the Fat Man. Jerry Stuchiner confirmed for me that Four Star was Dickson Yao, in an e-mail on July 26, 2007. (Stuchiner had already revealed as much to Newsweek in 1997; see Brook Larmer and Melinda Liu, “Smuggling People,” Newsweek, March 17, 1997.)

  213 The agents knew: Mills, The Underground Empire, p. 799.

  214 Before long the Fat Man: Interview with Jerry Stuchiner, May 23, 2007.

  214 Short and pugnacious: This account of Jerry Stuchiner is based on an interview with him on May 23, 2007; Larmer and Liu, “Smuggling People;” and interviews with over a dozen current and former FBI and immigration officials who worked with him over the years.

  215 Still, in 1984: Larmer and Liu, “Smuggling People.”

  215 He developed a habit: Confidential interviews with two of Stuchiner’s former colleagues.

  215 From the Fat Man: Interview with Jerry Stuchiner, May 23, 2007.

  215 In the days after the Golden Venture: Confidential interviews with three of Stuchiner’s former colleagues.

  215 The Fat Man told Stuchiner: Interview with Jerry Stuchiner, May 23, 2007.

  215 Before long, Stuchiner was paying: Larmer and Liu, “Smuggling People.”

  215 With Hong Kong’s changeover: Interview with Richard LaMagna, July 17, 2008.

  216 Many people who find themselves: Interview with Richard LaMagna, June 3, 2008.

  216 They even discussed: Larmer and Liu, “Smuggling People;” William Branigin, “Hong Kong Set to Free Jailed Former INS Agent,” Washington Post, June 13, 1997.

  216 One day in August 1993: Interview with Jerry Stuchiner, May 23, 2007.

  216 Stuchiner was excited: Confidential interview.

  216 Several days later: Interview with Jerry Stuchiner, May 23, 2007.

  216 Stuchiner wanted to stake out: Confidential interview.

  216 Instead, the FBI took over: Interview with Michael di Pretoro, an FBI agent based in Hong Kong at the time, May 8, 2007.

  217 During his time in Hong Kong: Joseph Treaster, “Arrest Ends Gang Chief’s Rich Life on the Run,” New York Times, September 3, 1993.

  217 On Friday August 27: Ibid.

  217 Suddenly they were surrounded: Ibid.; Greg Torode, “Gang Suspect Link Denied,” South China Morning Post, September 1, 1993.

  217 When the officers searched him: Treaster, “Arrest Ends Gang Chief’s Rich Life;” Torode, “Gang Suspect Link Denied.”

  217 Jerry Stuchiner was furious: Interview with Jerry Stuchiner, May 23, 2007.

  217 For his part, the Fat Man: Larmer and Liu, “Smuggling People.”

  217 As soon as Ah Kay: Interview with Michael di Pretoro, May 8, 2007.

  217 The following day: Unless otherwise noted, details of the Green-Wood Cemetery raid are drawn from interviews with Konrad Motyka on October 31, 2005, December 15, 2005, and October 19, 2007, and on a photograph of Motyka and Shafer in the cemetery taken following the raid.

  218 As Motyka rounded up: Seth Faison, “Gang Leader Is Arrested in Hong Kong,” New York Times, August 29, 1993.

  218 They wrapped the whole building: Interview with Tom Trautman, May 3, 2007.

  219 From a high-tech command center: Interview with Luke Rettler, July 26, 2007.

  219 Several weeks after the roundup: Interview with Konrad Motyka and Bill McMurry, October 31, 2005.

  219 But in the basement restaurant: Interview with Konrad Motyka and Bill McMurry, October 31, 2005; closing arguments of Leslie Brown, Sister Ping trial.

  220 In addition to worrying: Interview with Ying Chan, November 21, 2005.

  220 Chan visited Sister Ping: Sister Ping sentencing remarks.

  220 Early in 1994: Interview with Ying Chan, November 21, 2005; Kwong, Forbidden Workers, p. 134.

  221 Chan reported the threat: Interview with Ying Chan, November 21, 2005. These details were corroborated by Dougie Lee in an interview on February 10, 2006.

  221 Dougie Lee, the Cantonese American detective: Interview with Dougie Lee, February 10, 2006.

  221 Sister Ping denies: Sister Ping sentencing remarks.

  221 With both Ah Kay and Weng Yu Hui: Written declaration of Special Agent Peter Lee.

  221 Its agents obtained a warrant: Ibid.

  221 In March 1994: Criminal indictment, United States v. Cheng Chui Ping, aka “Sister Ping,” aka “Ping Jai,” 94 CR 953, December 2, 1994.

  222 The following month: Transcript of recorded telephone conversation between Guang Yong, Guang Yong’s sister, and Ma Ji Son, April 5, 1994.

  222 After months of painstaking investigation: Criminal indictment, United States v. Cheng Chui Ping, aka “Sister Ping,” aka “Ping Jai.”

  222 But by then: Closing arguments by Leslie Brown, Sister Ping trial.

  CHAPTER 13: FREEDOM BIRDS

  The story of the Golden Venture detainees and how they changed the community of York was first related to me by Craig Trebilcock and Bev Church in 2005. They have elaborated on that story in multiple formal and informal interviews, conversations, e-mails, and telephone messages over the intervening years. This chapter is based on their recollections and on extensive archives of letters, photographs, video footage, press clippings, court filings, and paper sculptures that they have each maintained. I made two trips to York, one in October 2005 and one in July 2008. On the second trip, Joan Maruskin arranged a potluck dinner with a dozen members of the People of the Golden Vision, who shared their recollections and are cited in the notes by name. Maruskin also opened up her personal files, including numerous handwritten letters from the Golden Venture detainees and scores of back issues of the Golden Vision newsletter produced by Cindy Lobach. The asylum claims of Pin Lin and Sean Chen are based in part on their case files and on multiple interviews with their lawyers, Craig Trebilcock and Ann Carr. The account of the paper-folding is drawn largely from an interview with Yang You Yi, who was one of the most talented folders, and on my own exposure to the sculptures themselves, which seem to ornament every horizontal surface in the homes and offices of the York residents who rallied around the detainees.

  223 To Craig Trebilcock: Unless otherwise noted, the account of Craig Trebilcocks involvement in the case of the Golden Venture detainees is drawn from interviews with Craig Trebilcock, October 28, 2005, and July 23, 2008.

  224 A local joke: Interview with Joan Maruskin, July 17, 2008.

  224 The town was home: Interview with Byron Borger, July 22, 2008.

  224.The INS had contacted: Inter views with Jeff Lobach, July 22, 2008, and July 24, 2008.

  225.It was slow going: Some of the de tails of the circumstances under which Pin left China are drawn from Pin Lin, “Request for Asylum in the United States,” undated, June 1993, and other items in Pin Lin’s case file.

  226.At the foot of the American watchtower: Serge Schmemann, “On the Central Front in Germany, Quiet Duty and Good Life for GI’s,” New York Times, February 27, 1989.

  224 Craig’s secretary Margo: Interview with Margo Einsig, July 22, 2008.

  229 About a month later: Unless otherwise indicated, details relating to Joan Maruskin’s involvement in supporting the Golden Venture detainees are drawn from interviews with Joan Maruskin, July 17, 2008, and July 22, 2008.

  230 Along with Maruskin there was Beverly Church: Unless otherwise indicated, details about Bev Church’s involvement come from interviews with Beverly Church, October 30, 2005, and December 11, 2005.

  230.She d
rove out to the prison: Zheng Xin Bin’s case is summarized in “Golden Venture Chinese Refugees Who Wish Third Country Resettlement,” an undated document provided by Craig Trebilcock.

  231.There was Sterling Showers: Interviews with Sterling Showers, January 22, 2008, and July 22, 2008.

  231 There was Lena Ngo: Interview with Lena Ngo, July 22, 2008.

  231 There was Rod Merrill: Interview with Robert “Rod” Merrill, July 22, 2008.

  231 There was Demian Yumi: Interview with Demian Yumi, July 22, 2008.

  232 There was Cindy Lobach: Interview with Cindy Lobach, July 22, 2008.

  232 To help them communicate: Interview with Zehao Zhou, July 22, 2008; Caryl Clarke, “Zehao Zhou: York College Librarian,” York Daily Record, February 10, 2003.

  232 The members of the group: Interview with Joan Maruskin, July 17, 2008.

  232 They found passages: Leviticus 19:33-34. Cited in the mission statement, “Mission of the People of the Golden Venture.”

  233 “The Bible is the ultimate”: Mary Corey, “From Refugees to Friends,” Baltimore Sun, February 21, 1997.

  233 “It’s injustice”: Ian Fisher, “A Town’s Strange Bedfellows Unite Behind Chinese Refugees,” New York Times, February 21, 1997.

  233 To Caryl Clarke: Caryl Clarke, “Plight of Detainees Creates Circle of Friends,” York Daily Record, June 9, 1996.

  234 Maruskin insisted: Interview with Joan Maruskin, July 17, 2008.

  235 In the summer of 1995: “Coercive Population Control in China,” hearing before the United States House of Representatives, Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights, Washington, D.C., July 19, 1995. At least as of this writing, a portion of the testimony is on YouTube, under the title “Congressional Hearings on China’s Forced Abortion Policy.” Craig Trebilcock is sitting in the foreground. In the background, you can see some of the paper sculptures on a table.

  235 Chen Yun Fei recounted: Ibid.

  235“The crimes that have been committed”: Ibid.

  236 In Bakersfield they caught: Kenneth Chang, “Freedom Dreams,” Los Angeles Times, May 15, 1996.

  236 When they learned that the women: Julia Duin, “Hopes Frustrated, Refugees from China Languish in Jail,” Washington Times, September 4, 1996.

  236 On February 29, 1996: Chang, “Freedom Dreams.”

  236 Six months later: Duin, “Hopes Frustrated.”

  236 Word of their predicament had spread: Interview with Joan Maruskin, July 17, 2008.

  236 In order to secure the deal: Chang, “Freedom Dreams.”

  236 “They have a well-founded fear”: Joan Treadway, “Vatican Intercedes for Chinese Detainees,” New Orleans Times-Picayune, May 25, 1995.

  237 The church helped the women: Chang, “Freedom Dreams.”

  237 There was one last option: Interview with Craig Trebilcock, October 28, 2005; the case was Yang You Yi, et al. v. Janet Reno, 852 F.Supp.316 (1994).

  238 “You want a Chinese guy?”: Interview with Joan Maruskin, July 17, 2008.

  238 Several of the passengers went: “Hunger Strike in York,” Golden Vision Newsletter, May 18, 1994.

  238 A prison guard caught one: Melissa Robinson, “Jailed Chinese Aliens Fear Deportation,” Associated Press, January 8, 1994.

  238 The inmates were given: Undated letter from Dong Xu Zhi to Joan Maruskin.

  238.One man developed a tumor: Julia Duin, “Chinese Waste Away in U.S. Jails After Fleeing Population Control,” Washington Times, December 17, 1996; Caryl Clarke, “Friends Say Detainee Complained of Stomach Pains for Two Year,” York Daily Record, February 28, 1996.

  239.As seemed so often: Interview with Sean Chen, June 5, 2008; Robin son, “Jailed Chinese Aliens Fear Deportation.”

  239 One of the passengers: Caryl Clarke, “Even in Freedom, There Is Fear for Many Chinese Immigrants,” York Daily Record, December 27, 1996.

  240 One of the York detainees: The judge was Clarease Rankin, a Philadelphia immigration judge. Dele Olojede, “America—At Any Cost,” Newsday, July 19, 1998.

  240 While Wang was being held: Ibid.

  240 Wang was devastated: Ibid.

  240 Wang had been home: Ibid.; William Branigin, “Officials Seize ‘Mother Ship’ Used to Smuggle Chinese Men,” Washington Post, June 12, 1998.

  240 Some days later: Celia Dugger, “Sent Back to China, Man Washes Up Again,” New York Times, June 4, 1998.

  241 The INS immediately moved: David W. Chen, “INS Moves to Deport Persistent Illegal Immigrant a 2d Time,” New York Times, June 12, 1998.

  241 But in one final: David W. Chen, “Chinese Mans Release Ends a Five-Year Tale of Misfortune,” New York Times, September 10, 1998.

  241 This was nowhere: Interview with Joan Maruskin, July 17, 2008.

  241 One day in York County Prison: Unless otherwise indicated, details about Yang You Yi and the paper-folding in York County Prison are drawn from an interview with Yang You Yi, July 23, 2008.

  242 They presented Bev Church: Interview with Beverly Church, December 11, 2005.

  242 Before long the detainees: Interview with Cindy Lobach, July 22, 2008.

  242 As word spread: Interview with Joan Maruskin, July 17, 2008; interview with Cindy Lobach, July 22, 2008.

  243 Soon the proprietor: It was the Frank J. Miele gallery. Caryl Clarke, “‘I Really Wish I Could Have Art for Everybody,’” York Daily Record, February 20, 1997.

  243 Life ran an article: Charles Hirsh-berg, “Folded Dreams,” Life, July 1996.

  243 “There’s some intelligent people here”: Duin, “Hopes Frustrated, Refugees from China Languish in Jail.”

  243 The detainees at York: Interview with Cindy Lobach, July 22, 2008.

  243 Pieces ended up: Fisher, “A Towns Strange Bedfellows.”

  243 A traveling exhibit: “Fly to Freedom: The Art of the Golden Venture Refugees,” an exhibit in the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, June 8–September 30, 2001.

  243.Several of the most talented sculptors: See Isabelle de Pommereau, “For One Refugee, Sculpture Paves the Way to Freedom,” Christian Science Monitor, October 21, 1996; and Clarke, “I Really Wish I Could Have Art for Everybody.’” Yang You Yi was given a visa for his artistic ability, but it was later rescinded by the INS on the grounds that after being released from prison he had not continued to enjoy the kind of media acclaim for his art work that he did while he was in the prison at York. Interview with Yang You Yi, July 23, 2008.

  244.The men clipped the “Made in America” stamps: Isabelle de Pommereau, “Chinese Refugees Turn Waiting into an Art Form,” Christian Science Monitor, May 30, 1996.

  244 After one of the men: June Shih, “Immigration Papers,” Washington City Paper, May 10, 2001.

  CHAPTER 14: THE GOLDFISH AND THE GREAT WALL

  The account of Mr. Charlie’s capture is based primarily on interviews with Mark Riordan, Karen Pace, and Mona Foreman. The descriptions of Changle, of Sister Ping’s village, and of the impunity with which Sister Ping was able to operate in China are based on a research trip to Fujian Province and interviews with acquaintances of Sister Ping’s and local Chinese officials. The story of the Goldfish Case draws extensively on Judge Orrick’s opinion in the case, as cited in the notes. The Hong Kong meeting between Ah Kay and the prosecutors was described for me by four of the participants: Luke Rettler, Chauncey Parker, Tom Trautman, and Gerry Shargel.

  245 By 1995, only two figures: Interview with Karen Pace and Mona Foreman, June 19, 2007.

  245 The other was Mr. Charlie: Interview with Mark Riordan, June 7, 2007.

  245.Mark Riordan, the Bangkok-based: Unless otherwise noted, details of Mark Riordan’s efforts to track down Mr. Charlie are drawn from interviews with Mark Riordan, June 7, 2007, and May 20, 2008.

  246 It was beginning to seem: Philip Shenon, “Suspect in Golden Venture Case Was Leading a Life of Luxury,” New York Times, November 19, 1995.

  247 On a muggy day: David Stout, “Sus
pected Organizer of Golden Venture Operation Is Arrested,” New York Times, November 18, 1995; Shenon, “Suspect in Golden Venture Case Was Leading a Life of Luxury.”

  247 Mr. Charlie was eventually extradited: Brief for the defendant appellant, Lee Peng Fei, in United States v. Fei, 225 F.3d 167, before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, October 1, 1999.

  247 He was sentenced: Interview with Jodi Avergun, May 24, 2007; Mae Cheng, “Mastermind in Smuggling Plot Gets Twenty-Year Term,” Newsday, December 2, 1998.

  248 “This case demonstrates”: Stout, “Suspected Organizer of Golden Venture Operation Is Arrested.”

  248 “He is not a general”: Ibid.

  248 Sister Ping’s movements: Barnes, “Two-Faced Woman;” Ying Chan,

  “Smuggler ‘Queen’ Is Out of Biz,” New York Daily News, January 19, 1995; interview with Konrad Motyka and Bill McMurry, December 15, 2005.

  248 During the thirteen years: Burdman, “Back Home in China.” Burdman visited Shengmei in the fall of 1993.

  249 Eventually the village saw: Author visit to Shengmei.

  249 In the wake: Kwong, Forbidden Workers, p. 60.

  249 In Sister Ping’s village: Burdman, “Back Home in China.”

  249 At a major intersection: Author visit to Changle.

  250 Everyone knew where she was: Confidential interview, Changle, China, March 2008.

  250 At the FBI in New York: Interview with Konrad Motyka and Bill McMurry, October 31, 2005.

  251 In the spring of 1988: Unless otherwise indicated, details related to the Goldfish Case and the subsequent fallout are drawn from the comprehensive summary of the facts in Judge William Orrick’s opinion in Wang Zong Xiao v. Janet Reno, 837 F.Supp. 1506 (1993).

  252 A mistrial was declared: Harriet Chiang, “Officials Tied to Drug Case Return to China,” San Francisco Chronicle, February 13, 1990.

  252.The Justice Department’s Office: Jim McGee, “Perils of International Partnerships,” Washington Post, May 28, 1996.

  253.In his application for asylum: Pamela MacLean, “Chinese Drug Smuggling Witness Defects,” United Press International, February 6, 1990.