Prosecution's claim of Chinese 'gang' at MSU disputed

MASON – They call themselves Chengguan. They have stickers on their vehicles that resemble police badges. One admitted member drives a Mercedes-Benz.

Prosecutors have called the group of Chinese students at Michigan State University a "gang" that intimidates other Chinese students both to gain notoriety and for other reasons that are not as clear.

But one student, testifying Thursday in Ingham County Circuit Court, said it's more like a group of friends who hang out, eat together and go to karaoke clubs.

The group is at the center of a trial that began Monday of two Chinese men — one an MSU graduate with degrees in actuarial science and computer science, the other a current student. Both are charged in the severe beating last year of a Chinese student at a Meridian Township karaoke bar.

Closing arguments in the trial, before Judge William Collette, are expected late Friday or Monday.

On Thursday, attorneys for the defendants called several witnesses who said 24-year-old Meng Long Li, who is applying to graduate school, and 21-year-old Shan Gao, the current student, were not involved in the Jan. 31, 2014 attack. The student victim was beaten repeatedly in the head with a plastic water pitcher and knocked unconscious. His head wound required three stitches and 10 staples, according to testimony.

Gao had the group's badge-like logo on his Jeep Grand Cherokee last year, according to testimony. Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor Kimberly Hesse has described Gao as a lower-level figure in the group. She called Li an "enforcer." There was testimony earlier this week that Li tried to intimidate at least one witness.

Gao's attorney, Patrick Crowley, gave an opening statement Thursday morning after prosecutors rested their case. He said prosecutors hadn't proven Gao was involved or organized the attack. Gao was in the bar's parking lot, fighting with his girlfriend, Crowley said.

He also said the word, "gang," does not accurately describe Chengguan. He called it "a group of friends."

In China, Chengguan refers to a municipal police force that prosecutors said has a reputation for violence.

Li's attorney, Chris Bergstrom, said his client is not a member of a gang.

Two witnesses on Thursday admitted being members of the MSU student Chengguan group. One is a mathematics major who drives an Infinity. The other, a finance major, drives a Mercedes-Benz. It is not uncommon for the university's nearly 4,000 Chinese undergraduates to drive luxury vehicles.

Sijiang Liu, the mathematics major, refused to talk about whether the Chinese Chengguan is a violent group or has a negative reputation.

When asked about the group's reputation, Liu said: "I think it's OK."

He said the police-badge-like logos on vehicle doors was similar to having a Spartan logo.