Blue Moon Madam Gets 2 Years for Immigration Scam

FEDERAL WAY, WA – A two-year prison sentence was handed down today to Miyoung Roberts, 42, of Auburn, Washington, for her role in a sprawling immigration and sex trafficking conspiracy. Roberts, the former operator of the Blue Moon bar in Federal Way, was convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Immigration Fraud, Conspiracy to Harbor, Transport, and Induce Illegal Aliens and Attempt to Commit Immigration Fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.

The case, a grim illustration of exploitation, revealed Roberts acted as a key figure in bringing more than two dozen Korean women to the United States under false pretenses. From 2009 to 2012, she ascended from ‘Assistant Madam’ to ‘Madam’ at the Blue Moon, effectively running a pipeline of women lured by promises of work, only to be trapped in a cycle of exploitation. The women were employed as “bar girls” and, according to prosecutors, Roberts directly supervised some of their prostitution activities.

Roberts wasn’t just a local operator. Court documents paint a picture of a nationwide network, with Roberts supplying women to similar Korean bar businesses – known as ‘room salons’ – in New York, New Jersey, Texas, and Colorado. This allowed her to move freely, securing positions for herself at various salons and building a reputation as a successful, and ruthless, madam. Prosecutors detailed how she actively recruited and coordinated the travel of these women even when not directly employed at the Blue Moon.

The scheme extended to Roberts’ own immigration status. She fraudulently entered into a marriage to obtain a green card, and attempted to arrange a similar sham marriage for a co-conspirator. The twist? The intended groom was an undercover agent. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton didn’t mince words, describing Roberts’ actions as “degrading” and “shameful.” She will also serve three years of supervised release following her prison term.

The investigation, a collaborative effort between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB), the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the FBI, exposed a complex web of deceit and exploitation. Assistant United States Attorneys Ye-Ting Woo and Matthew Thomas spearheaded the prosecution.

The investigation isn’t over. Chang Kim, the owner of the Blue Moon salon, is scheduled to be sentenced next month, signaling further fallout from this disturbing case. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story as it develops, exposing the dark underbelly of this cross-country operation and the damage left in its wake.