53 tied to identity-fraud ring that victimized Chinese immigrants

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Kyung-Ki Kim, 49, of Edison and Yong Kim Lee of Linden, whose age is unknown, were among 53 individuals charged in what federal officials described as "one large-scale criminal enterprise" that illegally obtained and sold identity documents of Chinese immigrants.

Authorities say the alleged customers would then use the documents to defraud the government and financial institutions out of millions of dollars.

A Palisades Park resident, Sang-Hyun Park, was identified as the leader of the Bergen County-based criminal organization, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said. He and dozens of others defendants are charged for their alleged roles in operating the enterprise.

Kim is charged with conspiring to make identification documents and using them to commit other crimes, Fishman said. The charges carries a penalty of up to five years and prison $250,000 in fines.

Lee is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

Fishman said members of Park's organization obtained social security cards, most beginning with "586," from various "brokers" and sold them to customers who used them to obtain official documents such as driver's licenses. The information was also used to make counterfeit documents.

Social Security cards that begin with "586" were issued by the U.S. to individuals, usually from China, who were employed in American territories such as American Samoa, Guam and Saipan, authorities said. The identities were Chinese, but the "vast majority" of Park's alleged customers were of Korean descent.

Authorities also say the organization illegally built up credit scores associated with the stolen identities and used the scores to open bank accounts and lines of credit. The accounts allegedly were used to make expensive purchases or get cash.

Fishman said the enterprise caused millions of dollars in losses to the U.S. and banks, credit-card companies, lenders and other entities.

Both Kim and Lee were identified as customers in a press release issued by Fishman's office.

"The sheer scope of the fraud — and the organization that allegedly committed it — is remarkable," Fishman said in a prepared statement. "This type of crime puts all of us at risk, not just because of the cost to our financial institutions, but also because of the threat posed by fake identification documents."

Of the 53 defendants, 47 were arrested Thursday morning, one is in state custody on unrelated charges and five remain at large, Fishman said.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100916/NEWS/9160365/Edison++Linden+men+among+53+tied+to+identity-fraud+ring+that+victimized+Chinese+immigrants

Edited September 17, 2010 by Legacy member