Korean Gang Founder Sentenced to 17 Years for Extorting Annandale Businesses

The founder of a Korean gang was sentenced Friday morning to 17 years and six months in prison for extorting Annandale businesses.

Han Sa Yu, 44, founder of the Korean Night Breeders Gang, used "fear, violence and threats of violence to extort Korean businesses operating in Annandale," according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Read more: Alleged Korean Gang Members Indicted for Extorting Annandale Businesses

The release further states that Yu, a resident of Maryland, will have three years of supervised released following the end of his more than 17-year sentence in prison. Yu also agreed to pay more than $98,000 in restitution to extortion victims.

Yu, who is from South Korea, pleaded guilty in November to conspiracy to commit extortion last year. He was indicted in June along with a co-conspirator.

Illegal immigrants, particularly those of Korean descent, and their businesses were targeted by Yu and the Korean Night Breeders gang. Court documents state that Yu founded the Korean Night Breeders in order to "carry out extortions of various businesses in Annandale, including restaurants, and taxi businesses."

Restaurant owners in Annandale were forced to pay a "tax" or "protection money" to the gang or they were threatened with violence. Owners were also forced to provide free food and drinks to gang members. The release states that Yu extorted as much as $30,000 from one victim.

The money that Yu, known as "Thunder" and "Bungay" in the gang, acquired through extortion was used to purchase drugs such as marijuana and cocaine, according to the release.

Three of Yu’s co-conspirators pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 22.