==========
$ sudo modprobe rt2800usb
$ echo '0411 01ee' | sudo tee /sys/bus/usb/drivers/rt2800usb/new_id
==========
with the commands above, the device woks as wlan device and I can connect to network.

dmesg when plugged in the device is pasted below. 

[ 2155.304128] usb 1-1: new high speed USB device number 3 using ehci_hcd
[ 2155.472534] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2412 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472544] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472551] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2417 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472559] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472565] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2422 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472573] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472579] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2427 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472586] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472593] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2432 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472600] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472607] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2437 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472614] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472620] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2442 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472628] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472634] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2447 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472642] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472648] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2452 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472656] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472662] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2457 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472669] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472676] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2462 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472683] cfg80211: 2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472689] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2467 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472697] cfg80211: 2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472703] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2472 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472710] cfg80211: 2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472717] cfg80211: Updating information on frequency 2484 MHz for a 20 MHz width channel with regulatory rule:
[ 2155.472724] cfg80211: 2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @  KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[ 2155.472995] ieee80211 phy2: Selected rate control algorithm 'minstrel_ht'
[ 2155.475798] Registered led device: rt2800usb-phy2::radio
[ 2155.475863] Registered led device: rt2800usb-phy2::assoc
[ 2155.475927] Registered led device: rt2800usb-phy2::quality