Joohoon David Lee, an ICE and Homeland Security officer, was convicted of bribery in case involving sex trafficking. http://mynewsla.com/crime/2016/07/26/sex-slave-scandal-lands-immigration-agent-behind-bars-for-bribes-from-trafficker/ It seems the case started in 2012 when he was approached by traffickers.
The series of events began in March 2012 when Lee — who was assigned to HSI’s human trafficking unit in Los Angeles — interviewed a woman who claimed that she was entering the United States to be a slave for a Korean businessman identified in court papers as H.S.
The series of events began in March 2012 when Lee — who was assigned to HSI’s human trafficking unit in Los Angeles — interviewed a woman who claimed that she was entering the United States to be a slave for a Korean businessman identified in court papers as H.S.
About a year later, Lee told an attorney representing the businessman that he would fly to Korea, interview the attorney’s client and submit a favorable report — if “H.S.” would finance the trip. The man agreed, and Lee accepted $3,000 in cash, prosecutors said. He was supposedly initially offered $100,000 however.
About 10 days after receiving the money, Lee traveled to Seoul, where H.S. paid for the agent’s hotel and entertainment expenses.
Upon returning to the United States, Lee prepared a report related to the investigation of H.S. that read: “Subject was suspected of human trafficking. No evidence found and victim statement contradicts. Case closed. No further action required.” So on top of trafficking - he was also lying about the trafficking that was going on in California.
There's more to this case however as Joohoon also falsely accused a business owner and his family falsely at the same time to make it appear he was actually "fighting sex trafficking". http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/las-vegas-restaurateur-says-former-fed-manufactured-criminal-case-against-him
Las Vegas restaurateur Thomas Kim says a former federal homeland security agent convicted of accepting bribes abused his authority and tried to manufacture a criminal case against him.
And when Kim complained to the agent’s boss, he was told, “We can do whatever we want,” Kim says.
In a federal lawsuit, Kim alleges the agent launched a phony investigation into allegations of drug use, prostitution and human trafficking at Kim’s Korean restaurant, Club Yamang, in 2013 to curry favor with a competitor who had given the agent thousands of dollars in free food and drinks.
The competitor identified in court papers was Dong Myung Yu, who owned the rival Club Sonagi. He could not be reached for comment.
The goal was to drive Club Yamang, then a popular karaoke hangout on East Sahara Avenue, “out of business and into financial ruin,” the suit alleges. So we also have false allegations being thrown out at an innocent party - someone who is being smeared to cover up the truth of the situation.
Kim later learned that the agent, Joohoon David Lee, had come under investigation for taking bribes in an unrelated case in Los Angeles and ended up pleading guilty, the lawsuit states.
Federal authorities said they did not detect any of Lee’s malfeasance until he interfered in a separate sex trafficking probe involving a brother of H.S. The officer handling that probe said that Lee vouched for a Korean woman suspected of working as a prostitute. Lee insisted that she was eligible to enter the U.S. and that she was actually in a romantic relationship with H.S.’ brother.
No charges were filed against Kim in the Las Vegas supper club investigation, which Kim and his lawyers, former federal prosecutors Paul Padda and Kathleen Bliss, allege violated the constitutional rights of Kim, his wife and his employees.
The US Attorney's office said there is "zero tolerance" for this sort of thing. https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-hsi-special-agent-pleads-guilty-taking-bribes-korean-businessman-being “This defendant sold his position of authority as a law enforcement officer for a few thousand dollars,” United States Atty. Eileen M. Decker said. “As a consequence of this abuse of trust, he will now pay a far more significant price.” http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-agent-sentenced-prison-bribery-20160727-snap-story.html
“Those who work in law enforcement are supposed to uphold our nation’s laws, not willingly break them,” said Jeffrey Gilgallon, assistant special agent in charge for ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility in Los Angeles. “As this case shows, ICE has zero tolerance for public officials who abuse their authority and violate the public’s trust to feed their own greed. Guarding against illegal or unethical behavior is not an option; it’s an obligation we have to the people we serve.” http://www.cjnotebook.com/ice-agent-prison-bound-taking-bribes-businessman-allegedly-involved-human-trafficking/
Lee, who now lives in Las Vegas, was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release, including mental health treatment, when he is released from prison. Lee has since turned in his badge and works as a limousine driver, according to his attorney.
Fitzgerald allowed Lee to self-surrender to start his sentence on Sept. 23. This report says he was "sentenced to 10 months in federal prison". http://fastnewsus.org/lasvegas/2016/07/27/82412-ex-las-vegas-federal-agent-sentenced-to-prison-in-bribery-case.html So does this source. https://www.yahoo.com/news/former-los-angeles-immigration-agent-gets-prison-bribery-022857049.html
A petition was started on Change.org to change the laws concerning the fact this man can't be charged with the actual sex trafficking offense he has admitted to doing. https://www.change.org/p/congress-hold-trusted-officials-responsible-for-crime
While photos of "johns" are being plastered on billboards, pictures of pimps are being blasted all over the internet, and pictures of women charged with prostitution are plastered all over the town they were arrested in as part of a concept to "shame" people into deterring them from involvement in the sex industry - we can't find any pictures of Joohoon David Lee anywhere online. The closest we've been able to come is this photo which carries reviews of both Los Angeles and Las Vegas establishments - leading us only to "guess" if this is the man spoken of in these articles.
We're going to dig a little deeper to find out what exactly happened in this case as to his sentencing. I'd really hate to think our government would speak of "zero tolerance" in such a matter as this, and then to hear he's driving a limo now in Las Vegas. I say that because I want people to realize this case means that from 2012 until he was caught last year in 2015 - this man was in charge of the human trafficking cases coming to his attention in Los Angeles, California. Meaning if you were to call in to report being trafficked - you'd reach him trying to cover his ass.
By the way, there's no mention of "H.S." being arrested yet the authorities are calling this "case closed". Seems to me a lot of people were involved here I'm not hearing about - so how exactly is this "case closed"?
Let's also talk about the fact his involvement might be affecting research trying to be done about the extent of human trafficking. Here's a four year study done from 2010 to 2014 (the last year Joohoon was involved in sex trafficking), which was done looking into Mexican sex trafficking where the research was also conducted in California during the time Joohoon was in a "meritorious position" and well-respected within the human trafficking department. While he was also falsely accusing an Asian family in Las Vegas of being sex traffickers also. http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/extent-of-mexico-human-trafficking-obscured-by-lack-of-info
How accurate would this 2013 report be then on California sex trafficking? http://www.htcourts.org/wp-content/uploads/CA-HT-Fact-Sheet-2.27.13.pdf?Factsheet=HT-CA Here's yet another article talking about how difficult it is to get accurate statistics on sex trafficking of minors especially. I didn't see any notation of whether or not this woman Lee was in love with had a daughter, or younger sister. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/criminal-justice/report/2014/04/08/87293/3-key-challenges-in-combating-the-sex-trafficking-of-minors-in-the-united-states/ Since he was clearly involved personally with the woman and her family - who knows how many other people might be involved in this situation not discussed.
Let's also talk about the fact his involvement might be affecting research trying to be done about the extent of human trafficking. Here's a four year study done from 2010 to 2014 (the last year Joohoon was involved in sex trafficking), which was done looking into Mexican sex trafficking where the research was also conducted in California during the time Joohoon was in a "meritorious position" and well-respected within the human trafficking department. While he was also falsely accusing an Asian family in Las Vegas of being sex traffickers also. http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/extent-of-mexico-human-trafficking-obscured-by-lack-of-info
How accurate would this 2013 report be then on California sex trafficking? http://www.htcourts.org/wp-content/uploads/CA-HT-Fact-Sheet-2.27.13.pdf?Factsheet=HT-CA Here's yet another article talking about how difficult it is to get accurate statistics on sex trafficking of minors especially. I didn't see any notation of whether or not this woman Lee was in love with had a daughter, or younger sister. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/criminal-justice/report/2014/04/08/87293/3-key-challenges-in-combating-the-sex-trafficking-of-minors-in-the-united-states/ Since he was clearly involved personally with the woman and her family - who knows how many other people might be involved in this situation not discussed.
What do you think about this case? Let us know.
