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Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies investigating allegations of possible extortion and illegal weapon possession arrested a Chinese couple for child endangerment and cruelty to animals.

In April of this year, Sheriff’s gang investigators from the Operation Safe Streets Bureau – Asian Gang Team received information from a concerned citizen that an individual by the name of “Sunny,” who was later identified as Sheng Hui Chen, 38, of Hacienda Heights, was extorting thousands of dollars from Chinese immigrants. Chen intimidated the victims by representing himself as a high ranking member of the “United Bamboo” gang. The victims were too afraid to report the crimes to law enforcement.

Investigators also learned that Chen was soliciting young Asian women to work in his illegal nightclub he was preparing to open somewhere in the Rowland Heights area.

Chen also owned a pet shop at the 1400 block of Nogales Avenue in Rowland Heights.

Investigators learned that Chen used intimidation to allow a Chinese couple to sub-lease their rented home in Diamond Bar to him. Chen turned the home into an illegal hostess bar. He hired young provocatively dressed Asian women to work in the illegal establishment.

The victim couple re-entered their home when Chen vacated it after several months. As they attempted to clean up the badly damaged home, they discovered an AK-47 assault weapon that was left behind by Chen.

Asian Gang Team investigators obtained a search warrant for Chen’s home on Del Prado Drive in Hacienda Heights. On June 22, 2011, Deputies served the warrant. Upon searching the home, sheriff's deputies found narcotics in the restroom where it could have been accessed by Chen’s eight and nine year old children.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies also found a total of fifteen large dogs on the premises. Some of the dogs were kept in the garage without proper ventilation during extremely hot weather. They were kept in crates that were much too small for their size. The other remaining dogs were kept in a kennel in the rear yard of the house. However, the kennel did not have a cover to shield the dogs from sun light and it was too small to house all the dogs. Several of the dogs were obviously malnourished, which was evident by their extremely skinny/boney appearance.

Sheriff’s investigators notified Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care & Control officers who responded to the location. They seized all fifteen dogs and will conduct their own investigation, including looking into the pet shop owned by Suspect Chen.

Deputies arrested Chen and his wife, Yulan Hu, 31, of Hacienda Heights. On July 5, 2011, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed formal charges on Chen and Hu.

For Suspect Chen they filed felony unlawful possession of an assault weapon, felony impersonation of another for representing himself as someone else when he was first contacted at the house by deputies, felony animal cruelty, felony possession of methamphetamine, and two counts of misdemeanor child endangerment.

For Suspect Hu they filed animal cruelty, possession of methamphetamine, and two counts of child endangerment, all misdemeanors.

Chen and Hu were released after posting $30,000.00 bail each.

Chen’s alleged gang membership is still under investigation.

Both Chen and Hu are Chinese nationals who entered the United States on tourist visas.

The children were taken into protective custody and later released to relatives by Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services personnel. The investigation continues.



Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org


Sergeant Steve Kim
Asian Gang Team
Operation Safe Streets Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
310-603-3100
www.lasd.org



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