Virginia businessman pleads guilty to arranging fraudulent marriage

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Virginia man pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and making false statements to federal agents, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Yong Hyon Kim, 50, a Korean national and lawful permanent resident of Centreville, Va., was indicted on Nov. 17 by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, false statements, alien harboring and inducing an alien to come to the United States, and immigration document fraud.

Kim faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on April 13.

During the plea agreement, Kim admitted that he is the owner of 395 Collision Center in Springfield, Va., and that he recruited his general manager to enter into a fraudulent marriage with Kim's girlfriend so that she could remain in the United States. Kim's girlfriend was an illegal alien from South Korea whom Kim claimed worked at 395 Collision Center. In actuality, she worked as a madame at a Korean room salon in Falls Church known as "Tomato." Kim then assisted his girlfriend in obtaining immigration benefits and misleading U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services into believing that the marriage was legitimate.

Kim also lied to federal agents who were investigating the fraudulent marriage when he claimed that he was not dating his girlfriend. Kim agreed to forfeit over $29,000 and the Mercedes that he used to transport his girlfriend.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Frank and James S. Yoon are prosecuting the case.