Accused Korean 'madam' captured by ICE returned to Korea

LOS ANGELES — A Korean national wanted in her native country for operating a Los Angeles-based prostitution ring was turned over to South Korean law enforcement representatives Thursday at Seoul Incheon International Airport by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Eun Suk Sun, 37, was transported from Los Angeles to South Korea on board a commercial aircraft escorted by officers from ICE ERO. Sun is charged in a warrant issued in May 2011 by authorities in South Korea with operating a prostitution business in this country that employed other Korean women. According to the warrant, in November 2010 Sun hired the women to preform acts of prostitution at an apartment in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles.

Sun's repatriation to Korea follows her Jan. 17 arrest on administrative immigration violations by special agents with ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). HSI special agents in Los Angeles began investigating Sun after receiving information about her alleged criminal activities from the HSI attaché in Seoul.

Department of Homeland Security databases indicate Sun originally entered the United States in July 2003 on a visitor's visa, with authorization to remain in the country for six months. Following her arrest in January, ICE placed Sun in deportation proceedings. Last month, an immigration judge ruled she had no legal basis to remain in the United States, paving the way for her return to South Korea this week.

"If the charges in this case prove true, this fugitive's actions degraded the local community and the lives of the women she exploited for her own enrichment," said Timothy S. Robbins, field office director for ERO Los Angeles. "ICE will continue to work closely with its foreign law enforcement counterparts not only to ensure that criminals are held accountable for their actions, but to safeguard the rights of law-abiding citizens here and overseas."

In the last six months, HSI Seoul has coordinated the repatriation of 18 criminal fugitives to Korea and the return of three criminal fugitives wanted in the United States. Both ERO and HSI work closely with foreign consular offices in this country and Interpol to identify and locate foreign fugitives.