Woman gets 10 years for human trafficking

Newsday ^ | 9/29/06 | ANTHONY M. DESTEFANO

[kiriath_jearim]

A tearful woman was sentenced to just over 10 years in federal prison Friday for her role in a human trafficking operation that enticed women from Korea to come to the U.S. to work as hostesses at a Flushing bar.

Speaking through sobs, Kyongja Kang, 43, apologized to Brooklyn federal Judge I. Leo Glasser for actions that ultimately led to the sexual abuse of two Korean women by her husband, who was also charged in the case.

"I am truly sorry," Kang, of Port Jefferson, said through an interpreter, moments before Glasser imposed a 121-month prison term that had been agreed to under an earlier plea bargain.

The case became one of the city's key human trafficking and forced labor cases and was set to go to trial in November 2005 when Kang and her husband Wun Kang plead guilty at the last minute. Glasser also ordered Kang to pay the two victims a total of $90,000 in restitution.

Kang, a native of Korea, was arrested with her 42-year-old husband in January 2004 on charges they convinced the women to travel to the U.S. illegally and work for little or no money at the Renaissance Bar, which had been at 35-28 154th St. in Flushing. The women had been promised as much as $6,000 a month in tips from wealthy customers at the bar, money that would be used to pay off travel expenses, which ranged up to $20,000 per person, federal prosecutors charged.

"She and her husband built a mini-empire on the backs of slaves," Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Freedman told Glasser.

[gaijin]

Hmmmm....immigrants turn US into a slaver country of NEWER immigrants...?

[John Williams]

"I am truly sorry," Kang, of Port Jefferson, said through an interpreter.....

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For getting caught.

[stephenjohnbanker]

" I am truly sorry that I was fool enough to get caught, and blow a multi-million dollar tax-free scam, your honor"

: )

[gubamyster]

ping