A Woodland Hills man is now convicted of terrorizing Koreatown businesses, ruling his criminal empire with threats and violence, including a brazen carjacking. Daekun Cho, 39, faced a jury's decisive verdict, guilty of running an extortion racket for years, demanding "protection" fees from karaoke joints and the drivers who ferried patrons to these havens of song and good cheer. His conviction came down on 55 counts of interfering with commerce using extortion, one count of attempted interference with commerce by extortion, and a count of carjacking.
Reportedly, Cho imposed his will, demanding cash monthly from the throats that sang and the wheels that turned in this vibrant neighborhood. His brand of justice, delivered via fists and threats, commanded payments typically between $100 to $1,000. According to the Department of Justice press release, during an attempted shakedown that turned violent in May 2021, armed with a baseball bat, Cho, and an accomplice beat a karaoke-driving victim into unconsciousness. They left him with a broken arm and numerous bruises before hijacking his minivan, forcing him and his business partner to shutter their service, with the partner fleeing the state.
The U.S. Attorney's Office didn't mince words on the matter. "This defendant carried out his shakedown operation for years by preying on an immigrant community and intimidating his victims into silence," said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. "Today's verdict sends a message that we are focused on rooting out violent actors and holding them accountable for their actions." With the jury's verdict, Cho now faces a future penned behind bars, up to 20 years for each extortion count and potentially 25 years for the carjacking infraction.
Harsh lessons were taught in the process, with one victim hearing gunshots ring out as Cho, implying weaponry in his hoodie, made territorial claims over the dropping off of doumis – hostesses at a karaoke pub – before the victim hastily drove away, glass shattering, a bullet grazing a doumi's neck. "Today’s verdict should send a strong message to those willing to use violence and threats of violence to intimidate Los Angeles communities," Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang told the press. "HSI Los Angeles and our partners will not tolerate this egregious activity and will work diligently to ensure that dangers to society will be punished to the fullest extent of the law."
The case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jena A. MacCabe and Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section, culminated in an August 16 sentencing. Until then, Cho's strings have been cut, his tyrannical shadow over Koreatown dispersed, and the people once subjected to his will breathe a collective sigh of relief, hopeful for a future free from his brand of extortion and threats. The joint efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Los Angeles Police Department were instrumental in bringing Cho to justice, ensuring that these streets, once marred by fear, could begin to heal from the wounds of extortion and violence.
