Deadly Oklahoma weed shootings expose network tied to New York money, China: report

A Shadow Network Tied to Oklahoma Marijuana Farms Exposed

A series of deadly shootings linked to Oklahoma marijuana farms, including a quadruple execution and a home-invasion murder, has brought to light a hidden network connected to New York money, organized crime, and groups with ties to China, as detailed in a recent report.

Authorities, as reported by the New York Times, revealed that the criminal activities were fueled by out-of-state funds, undisclosed ownership, and lenient marijuana laws, allowing criminal organizations to expand illegal cultivation, exploit immigrant labor, and funnel large quantities of marijuana into the black market.

The investigation led authorities from rural Oklahoma to New York City, where real estate moguls, political donors, and leaders of Chinese hometown associations allegedly financed or supported the illicit farms. These groups, with alleged ties to Beijing, have attracted attention from federal agencies.

Oklahoma’s unrestricted medical marijuana law, which allowed licensed growers to produce unlimited amounts, provided fertile ground for criminal activities. The state was inundated with large-scale cultivation that far exceeded local demand, fueling an illegal trade across state lines.

One key figure in the scheme was John Lam, a prominent New York real estate developer and a major fundraiser for former Mayor Eric Adams. Lam, who reportedly purchased a $1.5 million marijuana farm in Oklahoma for his associate Wyan Wang, claimed to be an uninvolved landlord with no operational role.

Wang was tragically found shot dead in his Edmond, Okla., residence in January 2025 during a targeted home invasion. The violent incident was part of a series of attacks linked to the cash-heavy marijuana trade in the state.

Wang, who worked for Lam’s company recruiting investors in China, also led several Chinese hometown associations in New York. These associations openly supported Chinese government policies and backed Adams’ mayoral campaign.

Following a crackdown in August 2022, it was revealed that Chinese workers were living in poor conditions on one of Wang’s operations, working tirelessly with inadequate facilities and relying on makeshift arrangements for basic needs.

Despite the shutdown of Wang’s operation, records indicate ongoing involvement in the marijuana business, prompting broader investigations into New York-based hometown association leaders with ties to Oklahoma farms. Concerns about hidden ownership, labor exploitation, and interstate trafficking have spurred authorities to delve deeper.

In a tragic incident in November 2022, four individuals were executed at an unlicensed Oklahoma marijuana farm, underscoring the violence surrounding illicit grow operations in the state.