Bamboo Union trial, Federal Court, Judge Robert Carter presiding Papin

Drawing shows an interior view of a courtroom at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York where, on the left, several Taiwanese defendants from the international gang United Bamboo sit during the trial; Houston-based defense attorney Jan W. Fox stands at center and cross-examines Detective Robert Chung, on the stand at right, who infiltrated the gang in Houston; other defense lawyers sit around her and in front of the defendants. Ann Vitale, the prosecuting attorney sits between Fox and Chang, and in the background, Judge Robert Carter presides.
Caption from Drawing Justice exhibit: Taiwanese Gang on Trial in New York. Taiwanese defendants were indicted on conspiracy charges for operating as part of the international gang, United Bamboo, for involvement in gambling, drug trafficking, and prostitution under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The group was also charged with the death of journalist Henry Liu. On August 4, 1986, Houston-based attorney Jan W. Fox questioned Detective Robert Chung, who had infiltrated the gang. Believing they were expanding their narcotics operation in several cities, the gang unwittingly recruited FBI agent Steven Wong and other law enforcement officers, including Chung, into their fold. Ultimately eight members of United Bamboo received sentences ranging from ten to twenty-five years from Judge Robert L. Carter of the U.S. District Court for the South District of New York: appeal at United States v. Chang An-Lo, aka White Wolf, 851 F.2d 547 (1988).

Gift; Jane Papin; 2015; (DLC/PP-2015:128.154)
Exhibited: "Drawing Justice" at the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C., April - October 2017.