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White Leader Of Boston Asian Gang Gets 20 Years

The leader of an Asian gang in Boston who became known as the "White Devil" has been sentenced to 20 years in prison on drug trafficking and money laundering charges.

John Willis was also ordered Thursday in U.S. District Court to forfeit $2 million.

He pleaded guilty in March following a lengthy investigation that led to charges against almost 30 gang members and associates from Boston's Chinatown.

Prosecutors say the 42-year-old Willis used proceeds from drug sales to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Willis' lawyer argued for leniency, saying his client was orphaned as a teenager and lived in poverty before being taken in by a Chinese family involved in organized crime, who raised him as their own. He learned Cantonese and earned the nickname Bac Guai John or White Devil John.

This program aired on August 16, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.

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