Yeon Sook Hwang, who also goes by "Jackie," is facing significant legal trouble after a federal indictment charged her with unlawfully obtaining U.S. citizenship. The indictment, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson last Thursday, alleges that the 50-year-old woman lied on her naturalization application about her criminal background. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Hwang claimed she had not committed any crimes, a statement contradicted by the indictment.
If convicted, Hwang could face up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and fines reaching $250,000, along with a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. In announcing the indictment, Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson emphasized that an indictment is a formal accusation and that guilt must be established beyond a reasonable doubt. The announcement also acknowledged the detailed investigative work carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in advancing the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a national effort by the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration, break up criminal organizations, and reduce violent crime. The operation brings together resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) to support these goals.
Hwang’s case will proceed in the Eastern District of Louisiana, where Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr., of the General Crimes Unit, is assigned to lead the prosecution.
