Korean man sentenced to more than 3 years in prison for identity theft, bank fraud
PORTLAND, Ore. – A previously deported South Korean man was sentenced Wednesday to 39 months in prison and five years of supervised release for bank fraud, identity theft, and re-entering the U.S. illegally, following a probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Chae Sun Kim, 62, of Oregon, pleaded guilty to the charges in March 2016. According to court documents, between April and May 2015, Kim and an associate created a Republic of Korea passport using a fictitious name to open numerous bank accounts in the Portland metropolitan area. Bank accounts were also traced back to Kim’s business, King Blackbox.
HSI special agents found equipment and paraphernalia capable of producing hundreds of fraudulent identity documents while executing a search warrant at Kim’s Las Vegas residence. Additional identification documents in other people’s names were also discovered in his home. Kim’s fraudulent activities caused a loss to at least six financial institutions. Kim was ordered to pay more than $48,000 in restitution.
“These crimes pose a severe threat to the livelihood of American citizens and the national security of the United States,” said Steve Cagen, acting special agent in charge of HSI Seattle. “Removing the defendant from our communities – and ultimately from our country – will put an end to these fraudulent activities that may have been used to enable dangerous individuals access to our country.”
In 2002, Kim was convicted and sentenced to 63 months in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States, Social Security fraud and visa fraud. He was removed from the U.S. in 2007.
The case was investigated in cooperation with the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Jones concluded the sentencing hearing calling Kim a “crook” and telling him that he cannot return to the United States. Kim assured the court he would not.
Updated: