By Stephen Stirling
Dennis Kim, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion while serving as a police officer for the 109th Precinct, according to records filed in Brooklyn federal court.Kim resigned from the Police Department on Dec. 24, authorities said.State Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows), who has participated in raids of bars and suspected brothels with the 109th Precinct, said he was disappointed with Kim's conduct.”I am deeply saddened and angered when I hear of a member of New York City's Police Department betraying not only his oath, but his fellow officers and the people of the community that he swore to protect,” Lancman said.Under federal guidelines, Kim could be sentenced to up to 18 months in prison, but pleading guilty could spare him any substantial jail time. Federal Judge Sandra Townes set sentencing for April 18.Kim was arrested along with his partner, Jerry Svoronos, in March 2006 as part of an investigation that led to the breakup of an international prostitution ring that spanned several states along the eastern seaboard.According to court papers, Kim admitted to cultivating a relationship with Geeho Chae, who owned several brothels with his partner, former Flushing resident Gina Kim, including one at 57-24 164th St.Gina Kim is no relation to the officer.Dennis Kim said during the course of his undercover police work, Chae paid several of his bar bills and gave him money that he used to buy gifts for his family, the court papers said. Kim said his partner also received sexual services from the prostitutes employed at Chae's brothel, the court papers said.In exchange for protecting the brothel, Kim said he received information about rival brothels and other criminal activity in the area that the 109th Precinct used to raid several alleged brothels in and around Flushing, as well as to make arrests involving drug, weapons and robbery cases in the region.Information garnered from the March 2006 arrest of Dennis Kim, Svoronos, Chae and Gina Kim by federal authorities prompted a broad wire-tapping investigation that led to the arrest of 31 Korean nationals in connection with an international human trafficking ring that spanned from South Korea to North Carolina to Flushing.As of mid-November, all 31 of the defendants arrested as a result of the investigation were convicted when the only five defendants to go to trial over the allegations were found guilty of conspiracy charges in federal court. The remaining 26 defendants all pleaded guilty prior to the November convictions.Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
