Allen Yu and Zhe Zhang Sentenced to Life in Murder-for-Hire of Rival

Two defendants have been sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in the murder-for-hire of a perceived business rival in Queens, New York.

Earlier today, Qing Ming Yu, also known as ‘Allen,’ and Zhe Zhang, also known as ‘Zack,’ were sentenced by United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon to mandatory life imprisonment for their roles in the February 12, 2019 killing of 31-year-old Xin ‘Chris’ Gu outside a karaoke bar in Queens.

In October 2023, following a two-week trial, a federal jury found the defendants guilty of murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire conspiracy. As part of the sentence, the Court ordered the defendants to pay $1,035,000 in restitution to the victim’s family.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentences.

“Allen Yu set out to kill Xin Gu because he started a rival business and Zhang agreed to carry out the execution-style murder without hesitation,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Driven by greed and revenge, they hired a hitman to commit a brutal murder of a young man, traumatizing the victim’s family as well as the Flushing community. The defendants will spend the rest of their lives behind prison walls for this premediated murder. I hope today’s sentences bring some measure of closure to Xin Gu’s family.”

The motive behind the murder was rooted in Allen Yu’s perceived disloyalty and the loss of clients and employees after Xin Gu left to start his own property development company, KG Management. Enraged, Allen Yu hired Zhe Zhang and another co-conspirator to kill Xin Gu in exchange for payment.

On the evening of February 11, 2019, into the following morning, Xin Gu’s new company hosted a celebration of the Lunar New Year at Lake Pavilion restaurant in Flushing. After that dinner, Xin Gu and a smaller group went to a karaoke bar, Grand Slam KTV, on Fowler Avenue. The hit team learned of the party and with Zhe Zhang serving as the getaway driver, Antony Abreu walked up to the victim and shot him multiple times as he waited for an Uber, killing him.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s.