13-Year Fraud: New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Illicit Visa Scheme and Tax Evasion
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Newark NJ, a decade-long conspiracy involving the exploitation of foreign nationals and the manipulation of the U.S. immigration system has come to an end. Hyung Ki Kim, 60, of New Jersey, pleaded guilty yesterday in Newark to federal charges including visa fraud, inducing undocumented individuals to enter the U.S., and tax fraud.
The scheme, which operated under the guise of a “leadership training” program, allegedly diverted over $1.2 million in illicit proceeds to Kim’s personal accounts.
The “ILTP” Front: Exploitation Under the Guise of Character Development
According to court documents, Kim served as the Director of the International Leadership Training Program (ILTP). While promoted as a prestigious program for leadership and character development, the investigation revealed it was actually a vehicle for an unlawful work scheme.
Kim and his co-conspirators targeted young members of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church) from various countries. The recruitment process involved:
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Visa Fraud: Submitting false statements to obtain B-1/B-2 nonimmigrant visas.
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Illegal Labor: Once in the U.S., members—who were legally barred from working—were forced into grueling “fundraising” cycles.
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Harsh Conditions: Victims lived in vans with several other people, working long hours to meet daily monetary goals.
Millions Diverted: How the Fraud Functioned
While the young participants believed their hard-earned donations were supporting global charitable projects, the reality was far more sinister.
Members received only $100 per month for expenses and roughly $25 per day for food. Meanwhile, Kim controlled all revenue, funneling more than $1 million into his private bank accounts and failing to report the income to the IRS.
“Not only did Kim lie to the victims… about where their fundraising proceeds were going, he compounded his crimes by committing visa and tax fraud.”
— Heith Janke, FBI Criminal Division Assistant Director
Restitution and Sentencing
As part of his guilty plea, Kim has already begun the process of financial accountability:
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$735,000 in restitution paid to former ILTP members.
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$223,536 in restitution paid to the IRS.
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$1,265,036 in criminal proceeds forfeited to the United States.
Kim is scheduled for sentencing on August 19. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
Case Fact Sheet
| Detail | Information |
| Defendant | Hyung Ki Kim (60, NJ) |
| Organization | International Leadership Training Program (ILTP) |
| Crimes | Visa Fraud, Alien Harboring, Tax Fraud |
| Sentence Date | August 19 |
| Max Penalty | 10 Years Prison |
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