Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and L. Scott Moreland, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division’s (“Army CID”) Major Procurement Fraud Field Office, announced today the arrest YOUNG BEOM KIM, a native of the Republic of Korea (“Korea”) and a United States citizen, on charges of honest services wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering. As alleged in an Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, KIM, while acting in his capacity as Chief of the Design Branch at Army Garrison Yongsan/Casey in Korea (“USAG-Y/C”), schemed to enrich himself through bribes and kickbacks from various manufacturers and suppliers of parts used in U.S. Army contracts. KIM is expected to be presented today before United States Magistrate Judge James L. Cott. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Richard M. Berman.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the Indictment, Young Beom Kim was responsible for overseeing construction contracts, including for the repair of bunkers, at Army Garrison Yongsan/Casey in Korea, located just miles from the North Korean border. The importance of Kim’s work and duties to the Army and its troops cannot be overstated. Kim betrayed those duties in exchange for a quick buck. Individuals who would betray their positions of trust for personal financial gain will continue to be held to account by this Office.”
Special Agent in Charge L. Scott Moreland said: “Today’s arrest should serve as a stark reminder that our agents are relentless in their pursuit of those who choose to defraud the government. We have a very robust group of highly trained special agents and analysts who are masters at combating and uncovering fraud, deception, and other criminal acts associated with government contracting and purchasing. CID will continue to see to it that anyone suspected of contract fraud and corruption is brought to justice.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and other publicly filed documents: [1]
From at least May 2017 through at least August 2021, KIM was a civilian employee for the U.S. Army, primarily serving as Chief of the Design Branch for the Directorate of Public Works at USAG-Y/C in Korea. KIM’s responsibilities included designing, reviewing, approving, and/or amending various maintenance, repair, and construction contracts at USAG-Y/C. While acting in that capacity, KIM helped ensure that certain Army contracts included the use of parts manufactured or supplied by specific companies. Some of these parts included blast doors, blast valves, shock mounts, and shock isolators (i.e., equipment designed to protect Army personnel in the event of an attack). In return, the companies manufacturing or supplying those parts collectively sent over $400,000 in kickbacks to KIM. A significant portion of these funds were laundered through bank accounts controlled by KIM’s adult relatives – including one account held in the name of a shell company (i.e. a company which existed in name only and which performed no legitimate business functions) – and were ultimately used to enrich KIM and to pay for bills and expenses incurred by KIM.
KIM, 62, a resident of Korea, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; two counts of honest services wire fraud; each of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; two counts of bribery, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of Army CID and Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Williams thanked the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice for its assistance in this case.
The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
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