April 25, 2003

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
San Diego, California

United States Attorney
Carol C. Lam

For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY

United States Attorney Carol C. Lam announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in San Diego returned an indictment charging SUK HI RING, RONALD LEE LOGAN, MEE YOUNG YI and JENNIFER ROMAN-CAPDEVILLE with: one count of Conspiracy To Commit Interstate Travel or Transportation In Aid of Racketeering Enterprise; forty-nine counts of Commission of Interstate Travel or Transportation In Aid of Racketeering Enterprise; one count of Conspiracy To Commit Money Laundering; six counts of Money Laundering To Promote Illegal Activity; five counts of Money Laundering To Conceal Proceeds of Illegal Activity; and a Criminal Forfeiture Allegation.

The indictment charges SUK HI RING individually with two counts of Engaging In Monetary Transaction In Property Derived From Specified Unlawful Activity; one count of Structuring Transaction To Evade Reporting Requirements; four counts of Making False Tax Returns; and four counts of Payroll Tax Evasion. In addition, the indictment alleges that RING and her co-defendants generated income from prostitution services rendered to customers of a business called Royal Palace Massage, which operated as a massage parlor at 6304 University Avenue in San Diego, California. Proceeds from the unlawful activity were transmitted across state lines and thereafter used to promote the business and acquire real property and other assets. RING also is individually charged with filing false tax returns during the tax years 1998 and 1999 by grossly understating her true income from the business and for underreporting the number of employees working at the business.

The indictment was the result of an extensive investigation originating in June 2000 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service, assisted by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the San Diego Police Department and the La Mesa Police Department.

All four defendants were arrested today. They will be arraigned on April 28, 2003, before Magistrate Judge John A. Houston.

DEFENDANTS

SUK HI RING
RONALD LEE LOGAN
MEE YOUNG YI
JENNIFER ROMAN-CAPDEVILLE

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1953(a)(3):

Conspiracy To Use Facility In Interstate Commerce To Promote or Facilitate the Promotion, Management, Establishment, or Carrying On of an Unlawful Activity.

Maximum Penalty: Five years incarceration and $250,000 fine.

Title 18, United States Code, Section 1952(a)(3):

Use of Facility To Promote or Facilitate the Promotion, Management, Establishment, or Carrying On of an Unlawful Activity.

Maximum Penalty: Five years incarceration and $250,000 fine.

Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h):

Conspiracy To Commit Money Laundering By Promotion and Concealment.

Maximum Penalty: Twenty years incarceration and $500,000 fine.

Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(a)(1)(A):

Money Laundering To Promote Illegal Activity.

Maximum Penalty: Twenty years incarceration and $500,000 fine.

Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(a)(1)(B)(i):

Money Laundering To Conceal Proceeds of Illegal Activity

Maximum Penalty: Twenty years incarceration and $500,000 fine.

Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957:

Engaging In Monetary Transaction In Property Derived From Specified Unlawful Activity.

Maximum Penalty:

Title 31, United States Code, 5324(a)(3):

Engaging In Monetary Transactions To Evade Reporting Requirements.

Maximum Penalty: Ten years incarceration and $250,000 fine

Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1):

Making of False Tax Returns.

Maximum Penalty: Three years incarceration and $100,000 fine.

Title 26, United States Code, Section 7201: Payroll Tax Evasion.

Maximum Penalty: Five years incarceration and $100,000 fine.

AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
San Diego Police Department
La Mesa Police Department.

An indictment itself is not evidence that the defendants committed the crimes charged. The defendants are presumed innocent until the Government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.