Greenbelt, MD – Yesterday, United States District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Shin Ja Lee, 56, of Highland, Maryland, to twelve months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for bribery, in a scheme involving alcoholic beverage licenses in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
The defendant also was ordered to forfeit $242,945.43, and to pay an additional fine of $50,000. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; and Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to her plea agreement and other court documents, Lee was the owner of Palmer Liquor Store and the resident agent of Multi-Bil, Inc. Together with David Son, a former Commissioner on the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners, and Young Paig, the former owner of Central Avenue Restaurant & Liquor Store in Prince George’s County, Lee paid bribe payments to two then-Maryland State Delegates, William Alberto Campos-Escobar and Michael Vaughn.
The bribes were in exchange for obtaining passage of legislation that permitted certain liquor stores in the County to sell liquor on Sundays. Lee participated in bribe payments on five separate occasions in 2015 and 2016.
Paig pleaded guilty to bribery and was sentenced to 41 months in prison. Campos pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribery and was sentenced to 54 months in prison. Son pleaded guilty to conspiracy, bribery, and obstruction of justice and was sentenced to 60 months in prison.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the IRS-CI, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Windom, who prosecuted the case.
Lee is the former owner of Palmer Liquor Store. She was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for bribery.
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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