Gang leader sentenced to 17 years for extorting Annandale businesses

The popular Honey Pig was one of the restaurants targeted by the Korean Night Breeders gang.

Han Sa Yu, 44, the leader of a criminal gang known as the Korean Night Breeders, was sentenced to 17 and a-half years in prison for using fear, violence, and threats of violence to extort money from Korean businesses in Annandale, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia reported.

The sentence was handed down Feb. 1 by U.S. District Judge James C. Cacheris in Alexandria. Yu, a resident of Maryland who is originally from South Korea, agreed to pay more than $98,000 in restitution to his victims. Yu pleaded guilty to commit extortion on Nov. 9, 2012.
According to court documents, Yu founded the Korean Night Breeders about six years ago to carry out extortions of dozens of Korean-owned businesses in Annandale, including restaurants, taxi companies, and “doumi” operators. Doumi girls flirt with, entertain, and possibly provide other services to men in bars and  karaoke clubs.

Among the victimized business were the Honey Pig restaurant, Napoleon Bakery, Café Tu Ah, and the Happi Billiards and Café, the Washington Post reported.

Yu, also known as “Thunder” and “Bungay,” and his gang dressed in black suits and carried metal batons to intimidate their victims. They threatened violence unless they were given a “tax” or “protection” money, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. The Korean Night Breeders extorted more than $30,000 from one restaurant. Those who refused were beaten. They also demanded free food and drink.

The size of the gang varied, but at times had as many as 15 members. Yu modeled the gang after Asian organized crime syndicates. He held meetings where he would discuss potential victims and teach fighting and extortion techniques. The gang used some of the money they extorted to purchase marijuana and cocaine.

Yu had been arrested 18 times on various charges over the years but was rarely convicted because victims and witnesses were afraid to testify against him. Three of Yu’s co-conspirators also pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 22. Another gang member, an enforcer known as “Justice,” was arrested last June.