Contrite ex-thug wins OK to gamble in AC

ATLANTIC CITY - For years, he was one of the top three leaders of the Ghost Shadows, a notorious Chinese street gang in New York that dealt in drugs, illegal gambling and other vices, and he spent eight years in prison for racketeering.

But now Robin Chee says he's a changed man and wants to be able to gamble in Atlantic City casinos. Besides, he said, none of his old crimes happened in Atlantic City or in a casino.

The state Casino Control Commission, noting Chee has stayed out of trouble since his 2003 release, removed him yesterday from a list of people barred from the casinos because of organized-crime ties.

Chee, who represented himself at a hearing before the commission last year, said he is grateful for the second chance, something that the commission rarely grants.

"I'm very happy," he said after the vote. "I wanted my name off the list so I can come down here with my family."

New Jersey placed Chee on its exclusion list in 1995, after he was arrested on racketeering charges, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The list typically bars mobsters, con men, casino cheats and other unsavory characters from entering Atlantic City casinos.

In his hearing before the commission last year, Chee admitted he was one of the top three leaders of the Ghost Shadows, with the authority to direct criminal activities of the gang's 30 to 35 members.

The gang sold cocaine and heroin, extorted local merchants and ran illegal gambling games, mostly dominoes and cards. The Ghost Shadows also provided security to gamblers to protect them against robbery or other trouble.

Just a handful of drug deals netted him more than $100,000, he admitted.

He described his daily activities as drinking, getting high and gambling.

During his eight years in prison, Chee looked back on his life and proclaimed it "a waste."

"When I was incarcerated, I thought about what I did wrong," Chee said. "I had to make it better and stay away from illegal activities. Now I work 9-to-5 like everybody else."

When he got out, he got a job with a New York computer company, rising to become manager of its shipping department. He is married, has three children and considers himself a good father.

Chee said his time behind bars turned his life around. The Ghost Shadows, he said, were smashed by the 1995 arrests and no longer exist.

"If I didn't get arrested, I'd still probably be out there doing the same old thing," he said.