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Suwanee man given 18 months in prison for role in Gwinnett extortion case

Posted 3:54PM on Tuesday 12th June 2018 ( 5 years ago )

A Suwanee man was given one year, six months in prison, three years probation and 160 hours of community service for his role in a gang ring that extorted Korean-American businesses in Gwinnett County.

Jong Sung "John" Kim, 53, was the fifth and final defendant to be sentenced in the case, according to press statement issued by U.S. Attorney Byung Pak.

Kim was convicted in March 2017 on two counts of interfering with commerce by extortion. He was a lieutenant in a gang that would violently collect debts from business owners in the Korean community, often calling them "protection payments."

“These gang members were professionals at extortion, maiming, injuring and threatening to kill anyone who did not bend to their demands,” said Pak.

“Legitimate business owners were paralyzed with fear at the thought of this gang visiting them. The community is much safer now that Kim and his fellow gang members are off the street.”

The crimes happened in 2009 under the leadership of Eugene Thomas Chung, 44, of Duluth, who was sentenced in May 201 to 10 years, six months in prison.

Athith "Andy" Vorasith, 37, of Auburn was indicted in 2013 and pleaded guilty in February 2016 to charges of interfering with commerce by extortion. He is currently serving a seven year, three month prison sentence.

Jong Sung "John" Kim, 52, of Suwanee

http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/6/680978/suwanee-man-given-15-years-in-prison-for-role-in-gwinnett-extortion-case

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