Man arrested for extorting money from Annandale business owners

Federal officials have charged a Korean man with extorting money from Annandale business owners by threatening to report them for employing illegal immigrants, the Washington Examiner reports.

Je Hyung Yoo, 29, was charged in the U.S. District Court in Alexandria with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats of violence. Yoo, also known as “Justice,” was reportedly the “enforcer” of an extortion ring and beat up and intimidated several business owners into handing over thousands of dollars. No one else has so far been charged.

The criminal complaint, filed by a special agent in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement branch of the Department of Homeland Security, says Yoo extorted monthly payments of $500 from the owner of an unlicensed taxi company and beat up the man when he missed several payments. Yoo also extorted money from a former restaurant owner and from a man who provides “doumi” girls (paid companions) to karaoke clubs and bars.

Yoo had been arrested by Fairfax County police several times since January 2011 for drug dealing, burglary, domestic assault, and credit card fraud. He is in the custody of Homeland Security pending deportation to Korea.