MANHATTAN – A Queens man is facing serious federal charges after allegedly masterminding a brazen scheme to defraud thousands of New Yorkers out of over $1 million. MYONG HWAN HAN, a/k/a “David Han,” 31, of Queens, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The scheme, which ran from April 2016 through September 2016, revolved around the mass mailing of official-looking but entirely fraudulent “notices of violation.” These notices falsely claimed to be from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, warning recipients of alleged vermin control violations and demanding immediate payment of $120. Failure to pay, the notices threatened, would result in additional fees and even property liens.
According to court documents unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, HAN and a co-conspirator, identified as “CC-1,” printed approximately 10,000 of these bogus notices. The fraudulent documents brazenly used the NYC Health logo and were purportedly signed by the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings. Approximately 101 victims fell for the ruse, sending checks to “Vermin Control of New York” – a sham entity created by HAN and CC-1.
The operation was meticulously crafted to appear legitimate, but a deeper look revealed the deception. NYC Health had not authorized the notices or the use of its logo. “Vermin Control of New York” existed only on paper, using CC-1’s post office box as its mailing address. HAN established a bank account for the fraudulent organization and agreed to split the ill-gotten gains with his accomplice.
HAN now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each of the two charges – conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud. U.S. Attorney Bharara praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service and thanked the New York City Department of Investigation for their assistance in unraveling the scam. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy V. Capozzi.
It’s crucial to remember that these are merely allegations at this stage. HAN is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the scale of this alleged fraud serves as a stark reminder to New Yorkers to be vigilant and scrutinize any unsolicited demands for payment, especially those claiming to be from city agencies.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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