By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times
The early morning hours of September 16 brought Newark Federal Agents to the doorsteps of 47 New Jersey residents accused of being a part of a massive identity theft ring in Bergen County. Several of those taken into custody were Korean immigrants who reside in Bergen County.
Agents executed search and arrest warrants for 53 people, but only 47 were taken into custody, said United States Attorney Paul Fishman, who added that he'd never seen an identity theft ring this wide spread or complex.
"I'm beyond shocked. This is really stunning," said Fishman.
Investigators say the suspects, along with alleged ring leader, Sang-Hyun Park, would buy Social Security numbers originally given to people working in the United States and American territories, including Guam, to apply for driver's licenses under fake names or obtain credit cards, open bank accounts, and obtain loans.
The suspects would then go on high-end shopping sprees victimizing everyone from banks to retailers like Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom’s and Home Depot, as they purchased Rolex watches and leased luxury vehicles, WABC reported.
The thieves’ ability to obtain false social security numbers poses an even greater threat for federal agents: suppose terrorists were to get hold of these false social security numbers?
"Any loop hole or risk that allows people to get fake ID’s for this purpose can be a loop hole exploited to get fake ID’s for another purpose," said Fishman.
One of the men charged in the theft ring, Kang-Hyuk Choi, was already in custody after his arrest for the 2008 triple murder of Yoo Bok Kim, 47, Doo Soo Seo, 70, and Han Il Kim, 27 in Tenafly.
Authorities believe Choi and Kim were arguing over ill-gotten monies connected to the theft ring.
Prosecutors in that case said Choi, of Valley Stream, NY, used a knife to stab Kim repeatedly, then waited for his mother to return to the home the following morning, and stabbed her along with her brother-in-law, Seo. Choi then left the scene driving Kim's BMW with at least $30,000 in cash he found hidden in the house, NorthJersey.com reported.
Agents executed search and arrest warrants for 53 people, but only 47 were taken into custody, said United States Attorney Paul Fishman, who added that he'd never seen an identity theft ring this wide spread or complex.
"I'm beyond shocked. This is really stunning," said Fishman.
Investigators say the suspects, along with alleged ring leader, Sang-Hyun Park, would buy Social Security numbers originally given to people working in the United States and American territories, including Guam, to apply for driver's licenses under fake names or obtain credit cards, open bank accounts, and obtain loans.
The suspects would then go on high-end shopping sprees victimizing everyone from banks to retailers like Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom’s and Home Depot, as they purchased Rolex watches and leased luxury vehicles, WABC reported.
The thieves’ ability to obtain false social security numbers poses an even greater threat for federal agents: suppose terrorists were to get hold of these false social security numbers?
"Any loop hole or risk that allows people to get fake ID’s for this purpose can be a loop hole exploited to get fake ID’s for another purpose," said Fishman.
One of the men charged in the theft ring, Kang-Hyuk Choi, was already in custody after his arrest for the 2008 triple murder of Yoo Bok Kim, 47, Doo Soo Seo, 70, and Han Il Kim, 27 in Tenafly.
Authorities believe Choi and Kim were arguing over ill-gotten monies connected to the theft ring.
Prosecutors in that case said Choi, of Valley Stream, NY, used a knife to stab Kim repeatedly, then waited for his mother to return to the home the following morning, and stabbed her along with her brother-in-law, Seo. Choi then left the scene driving Kim's BMW with at least $30,000 in cash he found hidden in the house, NorthJersey.com reported.
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