Springfield Businessman Pleads Guilty to Arranging a Fraudulent Marriage

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Yong Hyon Kim, 50, of Centreville, Va., pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and making false statements to federal agents. 

            Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and John P. Torres, Special Agent in Charge for ICE’s, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.

            Kim, a Korean national and lawful permanent resident, was indicted on Nov. 17, 2011 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 of imprisonment when he is sentenced on April 13, 2012. 

            In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement the defendant admitted that he is the owner of 395 Collision Center  in Springfield, Virginia, 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 in 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.

            This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  Special Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Frank and James S. Yoon are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.