Thread: WA:Man gets 2 years for human trafficking

Man gets 2 years for human trafficking
By Mike Carter

Seattle Times staff reporter

A Korean national was sentenced Friday to two years in federal prison for his role in a human-trafficking ring that forced some women into the sex trade to pay off their debts.

Junk Won Hwang, 29, helped smuggle as many as 20 people a month into the U.S. from Canada, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court. Many of his victims were women, who wound up in massage parlors and brothels, documents state.

Hwang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and smuggle illegal immigrants, and two counts of bringing an illegal immigrant into the U.S. for financial gain. He had been charged in a 17-count indictment, but has been cooperating with authorities in major human-trafficking investigations involving the U.S., Korea and Canada, according to court documents.

"As a father of a child, I deeply regret my shameful behaviors," Hwang wrote in a letter to U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik. "In order to become a rightful father ... ever to fall into the temptation of easy money, I have given all the information of 'illegal trees' of all sorts, which are still growing around us."

Hwang himself entered the U.S. illegally in the early 1990s and was deported in 1999. He became involved in helping smuggle Koreans into the U.S. through Canada.

Hwang, speaking through an interpreter, told the court, "I have loved this country, but my days in this country are now over. I want to return to Korea with as many beautiful memories as I can."

Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/l ... er01m.html

I am glad he has reformed his character, but I think the sentence is about 100 years too short. He should remain in jail until the last of his victims has forgotten EVERYTHING he helped to put her through.