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A middle-aged Korean couple was brutally attacked by two masked men when they came home from work to their Diamond Bar home on November 2, 2010. The victims’ hands were bound with zip ties, and a Taser was used on the male victim numerous times. Apparently looking for cash, the suspects then ransacked the home, which is located on the 1400 block of Lemon Avenue.

"While the suspects were burglarizing the home, the female victim was able to free herself during this traumatic ordeal," said Sheriff's Sergeant Steve Kim. "She escaped by jumping off the second floor balcony of the home, then climbing over a wall into her neighbor’s house where she called for help."

Realizing one of the victims had escaped, and not finding any cash, the suspects grabbed several pieces of jewelry and fled through the front door of the house into an awaiting get-away vehicle.

Sheriff's deputies with the Walnut/Diamond Bar Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department responded to the location, assisted by investigators with the Sheriff's Asian Gang Team. During the investigation, detectives learned that one of the suspects, although masked, was a Black male who spoke Korean very well.

In late January of this year, Sheriff's Asian Gang Team Investigators became aware of a month-long FBI undercover sting in partnership with Las Vegas Metro Police in Las Vegas, Nevada. That sting had resulted in the arrest of five members of a Korean organized crime group from Los Angeles, California. The five suspects were arrested on Saturday, January 21, 2011, as they allegedly prepared to rob what they believed was a drug stash house in Las Vegas.

Due to information developed by detectives about the Diamond Bar home invasion robbery during the sting operation, Asian Gang Team investigators went to Las Vegas to continue their investigation.

When they were inteviewed by sheriff's Asian Gang Team detectives in Las Vegas, three of the five Korean-American suspects implicated themselves in the November 2010 Diamond Bar home invasion robbery. They included David Chon (28), James Han (28), and Rene Hypolite (26), all of Los Angeles.

Suspect Rene Hypolite, whose parents are African-American and Korean, spoke Korean very well, while Suspect James Han was identified as the group leader.

During the investigation, three additional suspects were identified as having been involved in the Diamond Bar home invasion robbery. One as the driver of the get-away car, and two as the masterminds of the robbery. One by one, sheriff's Asian Gang Team detectives tracked them down.

Andrew Kim (26) of Los Angeles, was identified as the driver of the get-away car. He was tracked down and arrested by sheriff's investigators at his home in Los Angeles on January 24, 2011.

On January 26, 2011, Young Woo Kim (39) of Los Angeles, was arrested by investigators at a business parking lot in West Los Angeles.

Then on February 3, 2011, Kyung Hwan Choi (38) of Los Angeles, accompanied by his attorney, surrendered to sheriff's investigators at Pomona Court.

Young Woo Kim and Kyung Hwan Choi were identified as the masterminds of the robbery, which included providing the address of the victims to the other suspects.

Andrew Kim was released on bail. Young Woo Kim and Kyung Hwan Choi remain in custody on $2 million bail. Meanwhile, David Chon, James Han, and Rene Hypolite remain in custody in Las Vegas.

All suspects, including the three suspects arrested in Las Vegas, will be charged with the Diamond Bar home invasion robbery in Los Angeles County. They are Suspects David Chon (28 Yrs), James Han (28 Yrs), Rene Hypolite (26 Yrs), Andrew Kim (26 Yrs), Young Woo Kim (39 Yrs) and Kyung Hwan Choi (38 Yrs)

Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org


Sergeant Steve Kim
Asian Gang Team
Operation Safe Streets Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
310-603-3100
www.lasd.org


Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
www.lasd.org


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Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

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News stories from Las Vegas news sources. Note: These links are provided for your convenience. The LASD does not endorse products or services.

Home invasion ring busted in Las Vegas FBI sting

http://www.lvrj.com/news/home-invasion-ring-busted-in-las-vegas-fbi-sting-114591209.html

http://www.lvrj.com/news/three-more-people-taken-into-custody-in-wake-of-undercover-sting-115221649.html

http://www.lasvegasinfonewspaper.com/home-invasion-ring-busted-in-las-vegas-fbi-sting/

http://www.kswt.com/Global/story.asp?S=13970505