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Do Kwon Could Face South Korean Trial After 15-Year U.S. Sentence

A transfer request permitted midway through his term would open the door to Capital Markets Act charges carrying potential decades in prison.

Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer sentenced Kwon to 15 years and ordered $19 million forfeiture after prosecutors had recommended 12 years.
  • Under his plea deal, U.S. authorities said they would not oppose an International Prisoner Transfer request once he serves half of his sentence.
  • Seoul prosecutors say a domestic case would proceed independently and could exceed 30 years if he is convicted under the Capital Markets Act.
  • The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office has maintained an arrest warrant since September 2022 tied to alleged securities violations.
  • Korean authorities estimate about 200,000 domestic victims with losses near 300 billion won, a factor prosecutors cite in seeking a local trial.