Prosecutors say accused Chinatown gambling kingpin and loan shark Dong Jin Chen threatened to kill people, break their legs or stab them if they didn't pay their debts at hugely inflated interest rates.

On Tuesday, Chen ended the case brought against him in 2003 by admitting to running illegal gambling businesses and collecting gambling debts.

But he didn't admit to using violence.

Chen entered a "blind" guilty plea, meaning he didn't have an agreement with the feds. His attorney, John Beal, said Chen plans to fight some of the government's allegations at sentencing and expects to ask for less than half of the 20-year maximum prosecutors will seek.

The government's case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Schar, contends Chen was the leader of a gambling enterprise, raking in as much as $10,000 a night in one of the gambling parlors he ran in Chinatown.

In 2003 federal agents raided Chen's businesses and he, his brother, Jeff Moon Chen, and others were charged in a gambling conspiracy. Jeff Moon Chen also pleaded guilty Tuesday to taking part in a gambling conspiracy.

Beal said Chen used social pressure -- telling debtors it was their responsibility to pay up -- and not violence to collect debts. Beal said many were repeat debtors.

"These were habitual gamblers who owed money to everyone in Chinatown," Beal said.

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