Life as a Flying Dragon

Grandson of a Paper Son

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. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Life as a Flying Dragon

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.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Episode 6: A Sense of Order

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 [https://www.blackstonepublishing.com/products/book-h8ar] and his Chinatown Gang Stories [https://www.youtube.com/@chinatowngangstories] channel on YouTube. Rong Xiaoqing’s article in Documented, "Ghosts of Chinatown." [https://documentedny.com/2025/09/12/ghosts-of-chinatown-gang-crime/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Episode 5: The Mastermind

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 [https://www.posner.com/warlords-of-crime]. Fredric Dannen’s pieces in The New Yorker, "Revenge of the Green Dragons [https://www.ledegraf.com/classic-new-yorker/revenge-of-the-green-dragons/]” and “Defending the Mafia.” [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1994/02/21/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 [http://apple.co/pushkin] Subscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.com/plus [https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Episode 4: A Ghost Hand

Lidia Jean and Shuyu search for traces of Johnny Eng, aka “Onionhead,” the elusive leader of the Flying Dragons gang. He’s nowhere to be found in his former estate in rural Pennsylvania. Back in the late 1980s, he was nowhere to be found at all. Could prosecutor Beryl Howell ever bring him to justice? Meanwhile, Tina Wong is caught in the gamble of her life. For more check out the documentary: Machine Gun Johnny: Johnny Eng  [https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Gangsters-Americas-Most-Evil/0G59EP835WMK5E8KL9LXMP1Q6N] ---------------------------------------- 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 [http://apple.co/pushkin] Subscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.com/plus [https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.