Just Love the Names in This Story

I know, I am not being politically correct but the names just have me laughing out loud!

By Linda Finarelli
lfinarelli@montgomerynews.com


An attorney from Huntingdon Valley and a client of his from Blue Bell were convicted by a federal jury Aug. 26 of immigration fraud.

Michael Choi, 55, of Huntingdon Valley, and his client, Jong Soon Park, 48, of Blue Bell, were found guilty of conspiring to violate federal immigration laws, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Choi was also convicted of five counts of making false statements to the government, and two counts of filing false tax returns.

The principal of the law firm Choi and Associates P.C. in Elkins Park, Choi was found guilty of failing to report substantial income from his law firm for 2005 and 2006.

Three business owners, co-defendants Sung Mahn Gang of Ardmore, Hee Chan Bang of Marlton, N.J., and Keun S. Hwang of Jenkintown, and a number of Choi’s former immigration clients testified at trial that they had conspired with Choi to fraudulently obtain alien green cards, thus allowing illegal aliens to stay in the United States, according to a press release.

The business owners and Choi’s former wife and office manager, Sandra Oh, testified that Choi provided cash and legal services to business owners, including his co-defendants, in return for their signing petitions falsely stating their business intended to employ Choi’s alien clients.

Tape recordings of meetings and conversations between Choi and a fourth business owner, who, unbeknownst to Choi, was working undercover at the direction of the FBI, were also produced at the trial.

The false petitions were presented to the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which then issued employment documents for the aliens. In addition, fraudulent payroll checks were submitted to USCIS that falsely indicated the aliens were employed by the businesses owned by Gang, Bang and Hwang, the release states.

Choi was believed to have carried out the scheme since 2001, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Crawley, who prosecuted the case. Park and seven others were identified as conspiring with Choi to fraudulently obtain green cards, she said.

The seven admitted to participating in the scheme, testified against Choi at the trial and were immunized, Crawley said. Park did not admit to defrauding the government and was therefore tried and subsequently convicted, she said.

Whether Park or the others are deported is up to USCIS, Crawley said.

Choi’s three co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government under a plea agreement, she said. They are awaiting sentencing and face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $500,000, she said.

Choi faces a maximum sentence of 36 years in prison and a fine up to $2 million. Park faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Sentencing for both Choi and Park is scheduled for Nov. 22.

Park has been out on bail since the end of September 2010 when the two were indicted, Crawley said.

Choi, who is being held in the Federal Detention Center, had his bail revoked in April after he violated the conditions of his bail by using cocaine while on pretrial release and then lying to authorities about it, she said.

GANG, BANG AND WHANG.... now that's a mouthful.... and your right... I am still laughing.........

_________________
Bill Marx, Sr.
"FREE STATE BAIL BONDS"
"FREE STATE INVESTIGATIONS"
DCJS: 99-176979
Cell: 434-294-0222

"Endeavor to Persevere" "Lone Watie"

"Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that , comes from bad judgment" "Will Rogers"

_________________


Do not consider anything for your interest which makes you break your word, quit your modesty, or inclines you to any practice which will not bear the light, or look the world in the face .... Marcus Antonius

I AM Some Folks "KARMA" and A MODERATOR @ FRN