How New York Chinatown Gangs Actually Work | How Crime Works | Insider
Mike Moy says he was a gang member in New York City's Chinatown. He was recruited at his school's gates and then got involved in a gang in the 1970s. Moy claims he was involved in gambling houses, counterfeit money, bootleg kung fu movies, gunrunning, and credit-card fraud. He then joined the New York City Police Department as an officer in 1995 and worked there for 26 years.
Moy discusses the Chinatown gang's links with the Italian Mafia and how extortion worked. He talks about the locations of safe houses in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, and the secret smuggling tunnels around the city.
Moy founded the KZhead channel Chinatown Gang Stories, where he speaks with former gang members about their lives. Find more of Moy's interviews here:
/ @chinatowngangstories
/ chinatowngangstories
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Chapter 1 | The Rivalries
02:09 Chapter 2 | The Money
04:45 Chapter 3 | The Weapons
05:36 Chapter 4 | Smuggling Tunnels
07:13 Chapter 5 | The Recruitment
08:54 Chapter 6 | The Hierarchy
10:09 Chapter 7 | Changing Times
11:48 Chapter 8 | Becoming a Cop
14:34 Chapter 9 | The Aftermath
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How New York Chinatown Gangs Actually Work | How Crime Works | Insider
I love his accent. Its a mix of Chinese and pure New Yorker.
I was just thinking that. That NY layer is on thick too
Cantonese is best.
He sounds like a mathematician
4:33 perfect example
Good one
The fact that he got hired as a cop after being in a gang is wild. You can't even become a cop with a DUI. And obviously the NYPD knew, it would have been very relevant to his work in Chinatown. Genuinely curious how how he became a cop after admitting to crimes
For real. And how is he able to walk streets and not be scared of his former gang members putting a hit on him? Sounds like a shady cop still working with the gangs
@@cpcxgsr Sounds like you're trolling and speculating baselessly, using a heavily edited 16-minute video/interview to jump to conclusions about decades of a convoluted life that included both trouble and triumph. Whether he is or not, you don't know, and I don't know. When these interviews aren't censored or redacted, it's because the parties involved have determined to the best of their ability that the information is no longer current, relevant, or sensitive enough to pose a threat. Whether that's 99.9% or 100% true, we as 3rd parties can't make that determination. The interviewee looks like his gang-related phase was probably 30-40-ish years ago. He talked about the NYC gang scene in the 90s. The only former gang member I've known told me that most of his circle of former friends were dead or in prison (not just from gang stuff -- also just being dumb and reckless like OD, fatal DUI), at a point about 7 years after he finished his own sentence. And by 10-20 years after, the survivors had all burned out and stuck to laying low and living quietly -- pest exterminator moonlighting as comic book artist, electrician who married an ex-stripper old flame that had someone else's kid, small local bar bouncer, etc. A common theme I observed was that they all settled for what was within easy reach, after years of turbulence and d!ck-measuring. So after 30+ years, none of it really matters any more, to some of these people. Unsurprisingly, the majority of real stories don't end up as Jason Statham revenge stories (though he plays in consistently pretty good B movies).
I'm calling b*******
@@dakaodo This is most reasonable take I've read. Thank you for being level-headed. If he was in fear of his life, he wouldn't be making this video.
@@onetwo12onetwo526💯
I was fascinated by the entire video but I just love the goofy moment at 8:00 where Mike talks about how the media portrays onionhead as some dark/foreboding nickname about making people cry and he's just like "Nah his head looked like an onion that's why we called him that lmao"
Reminds me of a scene from Snatch: Tony: "Boris the Blade? As in Boris the Bullet Dodger?" Avi: "Why do they call him the 'Bullet Dodger'?" Tony: "Because he dodges bullets, Avi..."
Chinese nicknames are very straightforward and simple. People want to add some mysticism, lore to it, but I remember that all the nicknames in my family and are very funny: old fat, fat boi, skinny ghost, pumpkin, big head, dead dog/cat, etc 😂
Reminds me of when Michael Franzese talked about his former friends never being original about the nicknames. Like Fat Tony, why call him Fat Tony? Because he was fat. Why call a guy Chickenhead? Because that guy would shoot heads out of chickens during marksmanship practice.
hahahhahhahaah good point ...couldve been both reasons I guess lol
It's important because the gang members respected his choice for no nickname, unlike the racebaiters in NYPD that made him leave through bullying.
Sad that he worked 26 years and still got bullied by his colleagues at nypd. Racism is deeply rooted in the police system it's sad
*Society
@@pmaigotthat7211 What does thathave to do with anything? 😂
@@pmaigotthat7211Very true
@@pmaigotthat7211 not only in China even in America you have to be American citizen if you want to become a cop in America
Pointing out that in many societies across the world unless you are part of that culture you will not be allowed to participate in certain aspects of that society. Fairly obvious really. I guess being smart isn’t your thing. Also, unless you are Chinese you can never be a Chinese citizen. But the hypocrites in the comments will never acknowledge this lmaooo
That sucks he was treated worse by the nypd than the gang he was in, since he was bullied by them. Really interesting story, thanks for sharing!
exactly why he got into a gang in the first place !
NYPD have a history of being bastards, so not surprised.
Now you know why not to become a cop.
@@ubcroel4022I hate cops so much
@@joeygil-hz9kvimagine sucking up for the NYPD
It is ironic that he joined a gang because he was bullied in school, Then quits the NYPD becuse he was bullied there, So, when he was a gang member, he got more respect than when he was a policeman. Well, regardless, he did the right thing by getting out of the gang. Best of luck to him.
26 years is a long time as an officer, he must have very thick skin
It's yet another example of how police reform remains necessary for one reason or another.
Racism is rampant in every level of society for Asians in USA. Whites don't like Asians and Blacks hate Asians
@@viktorcheng2061with sharp wits
@@BigBadJerryRogers cops now are just thugs sanctioned by the law. Deputy gangs are just a manifestation of this shift into thuggery. On top of that most detectives now have room temperature IQ's.
Just the very matter of fact way he said “ those people will remember me for the rest of their life” sent a shiver down my spine
Yes exactly it sounded really cold
bet it got you wet
Facts yoh live this life and you get older and realize the amount of people you've hurt and you don't wanna do this things anymore but stay prepped for when karma hits
He went from being part of an illegal gang to being part of a legal gang
Facts
Dry your eyes
😂😂😂
Gangs are fictional but so is legal/illegal.
True... offences are committed daily without prosecution
Thank you INSIDER for shedding light on this piece of NYC’s Chinatown history.
I appreciate the insight, especially the small part about extortion and how money flowed throughout the community. As for his time living in two different worlds, it's sad that he had more respect and support as a gang member than a police officer.
It's crazy, nowadays the gangsters give all their money to the richest european and don't spend it in their community
The way the cops treat people its no wonder.
He seems like he only has loyalty to his wallet. Gang to Police then back to gang when he knows he can make a quick buck out of his stories.
@@gillroygarlic3616 yup, that brother hood ceremony was meaningless.
The NYPD is just another gang
Living Legend Mike, shoutout @CGS! Spectacular interview 🔥
A good mate of mine, fellow trucker, told me about a crazy experience he had in Chinatown in San Francisco. Let me tell you, those gangsters are no joke. Guns, swords, human trafficking and stuff you wouldn't even believe. You gotta fight to survive down there, gotta look that big ol storm right square in the eye and say "give me your best shot pal, I can take it." Great video.
Dude where I live its common knowledge like 'don't run with scissors', NEVER to dine-and-dash from a Chinese restaurant because the entire kitchen will chase after you with knives!
JACK!!??
@@markkennicutt1213 It's all in the reflexes!
Lol. Gangster and San Fran don't mix.
Get lost in town, end up in the lost n’ found.
Such a man of wisdom! I love that he explains the difference between each group/organization. That clarifies a lot ❤
We will always support this channel they're one of the best
These gangs have some of the coolest names i have ever heard "flying dragons,ghost shadows"! SO DAMN BADASS!
And then there's the Born To Kill group 😂
Don't forget Fukin American Association
What many people may not know is that in Manhattan little Italy and China town are right next to one another. They almost bleed into one another.
Yea man. Take out Chinese and a pie all in the same day.
Same for San Francisco, what an interesting coincidence
@@Ug0tmi1kmaybe not, you know crime syndicates gotta network
Yup.
@@dingleberry4234 True. Italians and Chinese underworld elements used to work hand-in-hand for more than 6 decades.
That “some of those people will remember me for the rest of their life” line was cold af
This was a very good interview 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Needs a movie done about his life. Very interesting man
there is, its called Infernal Affairs
Why is your name peanutman ?
Very thoughtful and precise. Thank you for sharing the knowledge and wisdom
That part where he said paying for loyalties and enhancing someones reps is hella true
Glad this video is back up!! Super interesting. Especially if you’re interested in the New York Italian mob. It’s cool to hear his accents clash. That strong New York accent with his Chinese accent. Lol
the way this guy speaks, and how his eyes talk.... he's seen some things man.
Such an interesting story! So glad he's sharing his story and talking with others who have experienced similar!
Mike is really a good man. His channel on KZhead is very informative. I haven’t ever been to NYC but I’d like to visit, just to see some of the places he talks about 😊
I love these videos and how these guys are able to tell their truths
I had a friend in the early 90s who was hanging out and dating these gang members. She took us to underground dance halls where the gang members hung out. I was in high school and was naive and curious. Thank goodness it was very short lived for me. I was a good girl so never really felt comfortable in that environment. I later came ro despise these gangs for the fear they instilled in the regular citizens in Chinatown.
How many of these gangs do you hook up with? 4/5
Thank you OG 🔥
Thank you big brother for real new York gang stories.
I totally bought those tapes, and learned a lot as a competitive full contact Chinese martial arts fighter. Thank you so much! Sure, compared to someone from China, I was nothing, but I really loved it.
Bro he was a gangster, don't thank him. Homedawg probably killed people
@@funnyfunnyvalentine7991maybe they were black or Jewish so it's probably ok
@@funnyfunnyvalentine7991 : Your cultural illiteracy is impressive.
His channel is worth checking out. As a young gangster in CT he also had several business' in Brooklyn. Pool hall, cab stand, etc. Smart dude.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge it's admirable
Thank you for sharing your story.
Grew up in the 90s and was pretty close in doing the blood wine ritual to be a soldier but just liked art too much and went to art school. Crazy to think what my life would be like if I went forward with it.
@@Asian_KidWas born in 93 and have been in Chinatown a lot, nothing happened much in the early 2000s. If you mean 80s when my mom grew up, you don't want to be. She was a high schooler and said someone ended up dying every week. Go to the wrong block, you'll get shot because you don't belong there
@@jin-out Im in the 3d motion graphics area and 2D concept art industry
Maybe you would have ended up like a certain famous Austrian who didn't make it into art school...
He’s right about those tunnels. I’ve personally been in those tunnels in Chinatown/little Italy. There is a private elevator on Mott street that can take you down to the basement with the tunnels. There are 3 or 4 different basement levels and you can go down the elevator in Mott street, then take the tunnel till you see steps, and come up the steps a few blocks over.
Any video evidence 👀
@@blackholesun4942 this was in 2006. No video evidence since camera phones were just coming out at that time, but no video phones. If you’re in NYC just go to grand street and Mott street, as well as grand and mulberry. There are two elevators on those streets that go down. You will probably see a Chinese guy just sitting on a chair outside of a building somewhere halfway down the street towards Broome street and they will be in your left.
@@ksadjdadjaifen lol i didnt find much Also why so aggro? WeirdChamp
Some private sellers will take you down there for the high quality counterfeit luxury items. My cousin went down there once very naively since she wasn’t from the city.
@@tinaspiceMy cousin went to buy a fake bag in Chinatown and they had a door in the wall they led to 4 doors 🚪 that the owner had to crawl in just to get her the bag
That's a gutsy story, from gang to cop...and in the same hood ❗❗ Going to check out your KZhead channel dude.... thanks for sharing, cheers to you 🤟🎶
Growing up in the 'ghetto' as a chinese kid (half chinese, but raised by single chinese mother and look way more chinese than the other half) and bullied so much i totally see the temptation to join these gangs, I met triads later in my life who had changed their ways and they told me i 100% would have been recruited in the gang if they werent all locked up. The chinese gangs are long gone here in London now (Or are at least more hidden in the shadows than before), but if i had the chance back then i probably would have joined.
Bruh acting like he miss his chance at going pro in the NBA. 100% been a 5 star recruit they told me
@@rsjrx Actually im saying i missed my chance at falling into a dark and bad life and prison time/death. and thats a good thing.
it is better to be alone and find your path than join a gang. it is not easy to understand that as a young child or adolescent late teen or early 20s but it is better to go it alone in life and grow yourself...
@@classic-superette When you're really young (teenager/20s) you don't really understand how much cumulative damage these kinds of decisions have for the rest of your life. It's better to be safe than sorry...
Look up young and dangerous comic artist and his story where he wrote comics about the gangs but they wouldn’t let him join. It’s a good story.
Bruh. The Grey slack fit. The old time hat. The monotone sound. The way he speaks. Hes a retired Dr. Evil. Do not mess with him. Phenomenal Interview.
I thought you were gonna say something racist about him trying to be white.
@@Asian_Kid 🙄
fr, he just comes off ice cold, there's no faking that
Thanks, very informative 😮
Learning new things every day. Great insight into the different gangs and how they were part of varying/competing syndicates, not one cohesive group... sounds like geopolitics!
What a fascinating life. I guarantee you this guy has some crazy stories to tell.
He's got his own KZhead channel. 'Chinatown gang stories'. All his stories and stories from his buddies are there.
i bet lol. bro casually talks about murders and shootings like coffee talk
It's interesting to explore this avenue and compare it to what the Italians like Gravano and Franzese have been sharing for a while now.
It doesn’t matter the race or country. All real gangsters have the same eyes, those cold calculating eyes. You see them once in person and you never forget
Yeah you see it in peoples that go through trauma too or have low trust. I talk to some of my friends and they’re always looking around, talking very deliberately, holding eye contact; it’s like they’re studying you intensely; like hyper alert all the time I guess that’s what you have to do to survive if you’re in or from an area with high crime rate/gangs or just poverty in general
@@kimmieutsunomiya1457 good insight, thanks for sharing
yes because it is already ingrained into their mind, like a second instinct, a given... That the person standing in front of them (animal in their eyes), will act erratically, given the right chance right condition. The most horrible thing is: they just apply this whole thought to anyone by default: - you as human, could act against your feeling/emotion in split second just for any reason. So, whatever you said / act could totally contradict to how you truly feel/think inside.... (by act, i mean acts that require you to sacrifice your life/emotion/dignity .... that kind of great importance and high emotion burden thing ) To survive in their world, you must internalize the fact that even a person who gained hard earned trust from you could turn you in any second. Not to mention the betrayals and information that withheld from you by your closed one. (Like a paranoid spy at this point, sbt) every man for himself- with that icy cold eyes as the only witness.
@@tommywong8084 wow, thanks for the insight. I really felt the thought process behind the eyes with this comment. Thank you
This was so interesting!
I lived in Chinatown for 6 years and I grew up in nyc in the 90s. This ma knows a lot of things that has bee forgotten with time
Wow...this man is so dignified. And when someone say "i i did what i needed to do" ouuuuuuffff
Awesome interview. Cool history that is often forgotten. Should make an Hollywood movie out of this!!!
Heard about the special on “We Might Be Drunk”. So glad I did! Quite a few laugh out loud moments 😂
Loved this😮😮😮
Thanks insider now im about to go play Sleeping Dogs 😂.
It's interesting to see how crime also has a culture. Each crime organization, though they are all gangs, serve very different purposes depending on the culture that created them and operate very differently. Some gangs operate with organized crime as their primary purpose, and as such tend to avoid the spotlight and have multiple streams of revenue. Those gangs also end up being the most notorious and the most deadly, because they have the most to lose. Others were born out of a sense of rebellion or to fill a power vacuum, and as such may be more brazen in their activity, focused on making a name for themselves and trying to take power from those who they feel have it. Some have a sort of symbiotic relationship with their community while others are openly hated. But what is consistent is that gangs and organized crime groups tend to be the most active in their own communities.
Subbed to his china town gang story page 🔥
Crazy life thank you for sharing
Imagine a series about the relation between Italian mafia and Chinese gangs, I feel there're A LOT stories there
How about doing videos of the victims destroyed by Chinatown gangs? Maybe do a sit-down with a former gang leader & the victims?
thats really interesting hearing why you started that channel
Great Story!
for anyone who hasn’t seen it i recommend “YEAR OF THE DRAGON” (1985) dir by michael cimino from a screenplay by him, oliver stone & robert daley (who wrote the book). if for no other reason than to be introduced to john lone, victor wong & dennis dun. i do believe it may have been raymond j. barry’s (“justified”) 1st big screen appearance. hollywood horseplay ofc but overall quite engaging. john lone was phenomenal & is sorely missed by those who appreciated him.
Documentary level video
Agreed, though I hesitate to use the word documentary :), as the overwhelming majority of them are misinformed bunk. I've always loved history, and the rise of the amateur youtube historian has really opened my eyes on how many of the documentaries I used to love were just plain fantasy. I respect him for telling stories from his youth, and correcting the misinformation the media taught us.
That intro transition was great.
great video
please do more video and post 100% 🔥
love his unique accent, you know he's a gangsta
His soft New York accent🥹❣️ Such a soothing voice.
His channel is so good.
Damn.. needs a Netflix series on this!
We see the same thing here now. Back in the day a shooting was so rare it was on the front page. Now there are shootings every other day by teenagers.
Fun fact: Gun crime was twice as high in the 90s as it is now especially in New York they had almost 2,000 homicides
Respect to this man
Lowkey wish I could time travel back to NYC in 70’s-1990’s
This man took the "do hard things" quote seriously. Worked both sides and lived a life.
I grew in nyc the Italian kids did think were tougher than everyone else because of their dads and uncle's
glad to hear your remarkable true story Mr. Moy amazing how you made wise changes in your life career, which was a good one, its sad after you made it and put so many years in the NYPD that even then you had to face racism, but after 20 years you left and still got your benefits they owed you, glad you made it successfully myself know about racism for i am an African American born here and faced racism many times but stayed clear as much as possible from this ignorance in my 69 years of life. stayed away from all gangs and underground life too, and i know your true stories will help many young Asian and all races of kids avoid that deadly low class Gantsa life, my son is in jail now doing 25 years to life because he said he wanted to be a gangster but now he see that life is not like he thought!!! KEEP SHAREING THESE GOOD TRUE VIDEO STORIES WITH US TO SHOW YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OR ANY WHO WANT TO ENTER THAT DARK WORLD THATTHE DEEPER THEY GO INTO THAT WORLD THE DARKER IT GETS!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU AND FAMILY MR MOY
Thank you for sharing your story and words of wisdom. I’m sorry to hear about your son. He already made the first step to be a better person by realizing his mistake.
@larryfranklin2392 I am so sorry to hear that about your son; I hope life gets better for everyone involved in this situation.
I lived in Woodhaven queens most of my life I would have never expected that they had safe houses in that neighborhood
Insanely interesting story. Well done!
This is the definition of bravery.
@jin-out I only meant, that for him to come out so publicly is very brave. Given the retribution he might face. And also to take part in policing these gangs. It's only a brave, even fearless, person who would take that on.
@jin-out it's been a while since i'd seen the video. But I remember being positively impressed. Thank you Jin.
Charisma and cold eyes of a killer, you can tell this man is lethal.
🤦♂️
Guy never stoped being a gangster at heart
What mike is saying NYPD is the biggest Gang in NYC? LOL Confirmed.
It is
This guy has one of the most fascinating accents I've ever heard
He seems quite intimidating. One of those thin, wiry, scary guys.
hes not wiry, the gangsters you see are just obese and unfit
😂
Really good documentary
fascinating stories
I’d be most interested in this guy’s relationship to his parents or guardians. Of course it can be hard to get truly honest interviews about that
“It’s all about respect, and a lot of people died because of disrespect.” Street truth right there.
Mr Moy 07's Musch respect, look foward to reading anything you've written...I appreciate the honesty.
Awesome to see him get out of the gang and change his lifestyle for the better!
Wow he literally looks like a real life video game character.
the video game character looks like him
Man chinese triad gangs always have the coolest names
their not triads lol
He explained that they are not triads
@@Biscuitolivia3561 Yeah, the triad(s) are a distinct group that formed as a criminal element resisting the Qing dynasty. Of course, they didn't disband when the Qing fell, so continued to accumulate power. The vast majority of Chinatown gangs had loose connection to the triad at best, with elements like the Tong faction controlling a lot.
Cosa Nostra nicknames are way better
@@pmaigotthat7211weak organization
14:43 yes but the street life gave you the game that made you able to adapt to being a square. Great story. Imma go subscribe.
Its interesting to hear about a topic I have zero knowledge about.
4:41 “some of those people will remember me for the rest of their life” 🥶🥶
He was handsome when he was younger. ❤
e-boy maxxing
@@ShitBagSPCblackpiller
I bought sooooo many bootleg Shaw Brothers movies in the 90's on Jamacia Avenue in New York
I lived in the e. Village in the early 90s, that was a crazy time for gangs in Chinatown & Little Italy. Saw a lot of crazy stuff happen. Seems so different now.
Literally a criminal cop.....
This guy needs a movie about him
Amazing story
I don't really remember the next part but the part after that goes SECRET TUNNELLLLLLL
This guy is legit!
These are awesome gang names. I would join just to be part of an organization with a "dragon" or "tiger" in the label.
Enjoying a historical moment....NYC born and raised
I need a Chinatown gangster movie like now! Please!