Internet gambling CEO is city's latest homicide victim
Gerry Bellett
Vancouver Sun
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The 45-year-old Vancouver man found shot to death early Saturday slumped inside a late-model Cadillac has been identified as James Po Ho Cheung, the president and CEO of a Nevada-based Internet gambling company.
Cheung was found dead in a lane at the rear of 3363 Napier St. by police who responded to 911 calls from neighbours, who had reported hearing gunfire at about 2 a.m.
He is the 21st person to be slain in Vancouver this year, compared to 19 homicides in the city last year at this time.
Cheung was shot by somebody apparently waiting for him to return home to his modest two-storey residence, which is protected by bars on the windows and a steel grill across the front door. An autopsy was performed Monday.
Multiple shots were fired at the businessman as he sat in his Cadillac behind the east Vancouver house. Police would not say how many shots were fired or give details of the weapon or weapons that may have been used.
Vancouver Police spokesman Const. Howard Chow said Cheung was not known to police. Investigators were still out Monday combing the area for evidence and speaking with neighbours. Two vehicles were towed away from the home by police.
Police believe the suspects fled west down the back lane and are asking anyone with information on what happened or who saw anything out of the ordinary that morning to contact investigators at 604-717-2500.
Cheung was married to Sutton Group realtor Sandy Wong, who could not be reached for comment.
An Internet search disclosed that Cheung is president of 777 Sports Entertainment Group, whose Internet gaming operations were conducted in San Jose, Costa Rica.
On Monday, shares in Cheung's company closed at 19 cents a share, down a penny, on the U.S. pink sheets exchange, which is a largely unregulated over-the-counter stock exchange.
The latest news release issued by 777 Sports Entertainment Group was in May last year when Cheung announced the expansion of his 777betz.com website using Chimera 2, an online wireless gaming platform.
The website offered multi-table card games including Texas Hold'em, Omaha, 7 Card Stud and Chinese Poker, as well as sports betting and horse racing.
The Napier Street house, assessed as being worth $581,000, is shown in land title documents as belonging to Choi Yuk Wong, a realtor. It was bought in 1998 for $260,000.
gbellett@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2007
My apologies if this has already been posted..
BAUS
Gerry Bellett
Vancouver Sun
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The 45-year-old Vancouver man found shot to death early Saturday slumped inside a late-model Cadillac has been identified as James Po Ho Cheung, the president and CEO of a Nevada-based Internet gambling company.
Cheung was found dead in a lane at the rear of 3363 Napier St. by police who responded to 911 calls from neighbours, who had reported hearing gunfire at about 2 a.m.
He is the 21st person to be slain in Vancouver this year, compared to 19 homicides in the city last year at this time.
Cheung was shot by somebody apparently waiting for him to return home to his modest two-storey residence, which is protected by bars on the windows and a steel grill across the front door. An autopsy was performed Monday.
Multiple shots were fired at the businessman as he sat in his Cadillac behind the east Vancouver house. Police would not say how many shots were fired or give details of the weapon or weapons that may have been used.
Vancouver Police spokesman Const. Howard Chow said Cheung was not known to police. Investigators were still out Monday combing the area for evidence and speaking with neighbours. Two vehicles were towed away from the home by police.
Police believe the suspects fled west down the back lane and are asking anyone with information on what happened or who saw anything out of the ordinary that morning to contact investigators at 604-717-2500.
Cheung was married to Sutton Group realtor Sandy Wong, who could not be reached for comment.
An Internet search disclosed that Cheung is president of 777 Sports Entertainment Group, whose Internet gaming operations were conducted in San Jose, Costa Rica.
On Monday, shares in Cheung's company closed at 19 cents a share, down a penny, on the U.S. pink sheets exchange, which is a largely unregulated over-the-counter stock exchange.
The latest news release issued by 777 Sports Entertainment Group was in May last year when Cheung announced the expansion of his 777betz.com website using Chimera 2, an online wireless gaming platform.
The website offered multi-table card games including Texas Hold'em, Omaha, 7 Card Stud and Chinese Poker, as well as sports betting and horse racing.
The Napier Street house, assessed as being worth $581,000, is shown in land title documents as belonging to Choi Yuk Wong, a realtor. It was bought in 1998 for $260,000.
gbellett@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2007
My apologies if this has already been posted..
BAUS
