Korean Currency Plate Returned

Currency plate repatriation ceremony. Source: ICE

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today returned the Hojo currency plate seized as evidence in the criminal prosecutions against Wong Young Youn and James Amato. Prosecutors dismissed the pairs' cases earlier this year.

ICE today clarified in a public statement, "To avoid criminal prosecutions, both men entered into agreements with the government forfeiting their claims to the currency plate." The agency added, "Youn, a Korean native who was illegally present in the United States, agreed to voluntarily depart the country and returned to his native country July 31. Amato entered into an agreement for pretrial diversion and has satisfactorily met the following conditions: 90-days of supervised release; payment of $35,000; and 40 hours of community service."

U.S. Ambassador Sung Y. Kim transferred the currency plate during a ceremony held in Seoul, pictured above.


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