The Los Angeles Times is reporting on a yakuza-related story which has recently come to light. Apparently in the early 2000s, four yakuza had liver transplants at UCLA Medical center in Los Angeles, California and then two donated $100,000 afterwards. Of course, paying for transplants of any kind can be illegal and is certainly controversial; especially when the money is tainted by crime.

The transplant recepient was identified by a law enforcement official as one of four Japanese men now barred from entering the United States because of their suspected gang affiliations, criminal records, or both. All four received new livers at UCLA between 2000 and 2004.

The surgeries took place at a time of persistent shortages of donor livers. In the year of Goto’s transplant, 186 patients on the list for livers died while waiting for the operation in the greater Los Angeles region.