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Shangsu Han, 43, of Los Angeles, was being held on $100,000 bail following his extradition. Local police arrested Han at his home in Fullerton, CA in late July.
Both the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Los Angeles FBI office received the intial complaints beginning four years ago.
The victims said they invested in companies known as E2West Corp and Family Club to buy share in a golf resort/condominium called Nest Hill on the southern island of Jeju in South Korea.
Kiyoung “Kenneth” Kim, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli
Controlling those companies were Han and Palisades Park independent mayoral candidate Kiyoung “Kenneth” Kim, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli (both, right) said in July.
“The victims had seen numerous advertisements in Korean newspapers and television commercials regarding multiple real estate investment opportunities overseas, including South Korea and China, and had even attended investment seminars hosted locally by [Kim and Han],” the prosecutor said.
Although they had signed contracts, the investors, “have not received any return,” he said.
Although Nest Hill once existed on Jeju, neither Kim nor Han “ever had any affiliation with the resort complex, nor did they any contractual agreement to sell any portion of [it],” Molinelli said.
Information obtained through the assistance of Interpol and South Korean police found that Nest Hill shut down as a resort condo in the fall of 2005 before reopening with a new name, and under new management, in late 2008, the prosecutor said.
Both Kim and Han are charged with money laundering, theft and conspiracy.
Kim remained held on $250,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail.
Molinelli noted that the investigation was continuing and urged any victims or people with information about either man, or the affiliated companies, to contact his White Collar Crimes Unit: (201) 226-5678
MUGSHOTS: Courtesy BCPO, BCSO
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