Los Angeles: On Wednesday, December 19, 2001, at approximately 9:50 a.m., a prominent Chinese-American businesswoman in the Los Angeles Chinatown area, received a telephone call from a extortion suspect who later identified himself as 50 year old Chinese-American Walter Lam Wong. Wong demanded one hundred thousand dollars from the victim in order to terminate a contract on her life. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Asian Crime Investigation Section (ACIS) assumed the investigation.

On Friday, December 21, 2001 at 6:30 p.m., ACIS detectives arrested Wong at his residence in Arcadia. Wong’s unidentified girlfriend was detained during the investigation but was released pending further investigation and a possible filing with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.

The female extortion victim has not been identified due to the nature of the crime and the status of the on-going investigation.

For further information, contact Detective Steve Shyy, Asian Crime Investigation Section, 213-473-7333.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.