U.S. Department
of Justice
United
States Attorney 1100
Commerce St., 3rd Fl. |
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Telephone (214) 659-8600 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
DALLAS, TEXAS
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CONTACT: 214/659-8600 www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn |
JULY 18, 2006
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Local Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Defendant Also Ordered to Pay $460,000.00 Fine United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Mi Na Malcolm, a/k/a “Sora,” was sentenced today in federal court in Dallas by the Honorable A. Joe Fish, United States Chief District Judge. Judge Fish, in departing upwards from the United States Sentencing Guidelines, sentenced Malcolm to 10 years imprisonment and ordered her to pay a $460,000 fine. In addition, Malcolm will be required to forfeit to the U.S. government a 2006 BMW 525i; a 2004 Lexus LS430; $218,906.99 in U.S. currency; assorted sexual paraphernalia; and assorted computer and electronic equipment — property which was either proceeds from or used or intended to be used in the commission of her offenses. “The illegal business that Ms. Malcolm operated capitalized on aliens smuggled into the United States, primarily from South Korea,” said John Chakwin, Special Agent in Charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Dallas. Chakwin went on to say, "Malcolm’s arrest, conviction and today’s sentencing have already sent strong signals to the illegal sex industry that harboring, smuggling and trafficking in aliens will produce serious legal consequences. Our ICE special agents are fully prepared to initiate similar investigations to those who don’t heed that message.” Malcolm admitted that she housed a number of aliens in the same places where they worked in her sexually-oriented businesses; monitored their movements in person or through an escort and via video surveillance; and otherwise attempted to control their movements. She directed the women to work as prostitutes for six to seven days a week and many were required to be available for prostitution 24 hours per day. Malcolm maintained records of many of the women’s earnings and payment of their debt. On multiple occasions Malcolm warned the women that they were not free to leave unless and until they had paid off their smuggling debt, as well as debts that she claimed they owed for rent and food. With respect to the bulk cash smuggling charge, Malcolm admitted placing a box containing $60,000 in U.S. currency in the mail on April 25, 2005, addressed to her father in Korea. Malcolm filled out the required Postal Service Form 2976-A for the box declaring that the contents were “snacks and cookies.” Malcolm admitted she knew she had a legal duty to file a report of the amount of the currency transported and knowingly failed to do so, with the intent to violate the law. ###
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