QUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH STEALING IDENTITIES OF VICTIMS: AND GOING ON CAR-BUYING SPREE

UsaNewsOnline.Com Desk, New York : Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced yesterday that Yong “Jason” Jeon, 47, is charged with grand larceny, identity theft and other crimes for allegedly stealing the identities of multiple people and then purchasing and leasing 11 cars from a dealership between July 2019 and March 2020. In addition to getting a new car out of the nefarious deals, the defendant was also paid thousands of dollars in finder’s fees for brokering the sales.
District Attorney Katz said, “Preying on non-English speaking members of the Korean community, the defendant allegedly helped some to acquire cars and then helped himself to their personal information to enrich himself. Using forged documents, faked identification and double-talk, this alleged conman swindled the car dealership out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The other victims are the seven individuals who had their personal information stolen and in some instances their credit ratings ruined. Many of the victims didn’t realize they had been conned until they received big bills in the mail for cars they didn’t purchase or lease. The defendant
now faces very serious charges for these alleged crimes.”
Jeon, of Little Neck, Queens, was arraigned late last night before Queens Criminal Court Judge Karen Gopee on a complaint charging him with grand larceny in the second, third and fourth degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the third and fourth degree, attempted criminal possession of stolen property in the third and fourth degree, falsifying business records in the first and second degree, scheme to defraud and identity theft in the first degree. Judge Gopee set the defendant’s return date for February 2, 2021. If convicted, Jeon faces up to 3 ½ to 7 years in prison.
According to the charges, in July 2019 Jeon was actively offering his services to non-English-speaking Koreans to help them buy or lease a car. He also allegedly used their personal information as if it were his own.
In July 2019, the defendant is accused of using the name, birth date and social security number of a man to lease a 2019 Kia Sedona. Jeon submitted the required paperwork with the buyer’s signature and as a finder’s fee the dealership paid the defendant $4,400. Press Release.