Jong Huh, Torrance Real-Estate Agent, Charged With Literally Gambling Clients' Money Away
A warrant has been out for the arrest of Torrance real-estate agent Jong Hwan Huh since late April, when the L.A. County District Attorney's office filed 17 felony counts against him -- including grand theft, forgery, issuing bad checks and "enhancements for aggravated white collar crime."
LASD Huh.
According to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, Huh collected $404,000 from seven victims throughout the South Bay while working at Masters Realty Group in Los Angeles, promising to put it toward real-estate leases and purchases.
But Huh, 47, had more glamorous investments in mind:
The suspect, whose Americanized name is David Huh, "frequented local casinos and used the victims' money to gamble," reports the sheriff.
And guess where sheriff's deputies found him, over two months after the charges were filed?
southendclub.com The suspect's not-so-conspicuous hideout.
Basically, this was the Korean-American sequel to "Catch Me If You Can."
Huh was arrested on July 5 at the expensive South End Racquet and Health Club, a private and picturesque gym located near the Torrance Airport.
From the club's website:
"Located at the base of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, our private club offers a resort atmosphere. With over seven acres of beautifully manicured grounds, tennis, paddle tennis, racquetball and state-of-the-art fitness center, these all create the perfect setting for your total club experience."
Not exactly the No. 1 place you'd expect a most-wanted man to show his mug after allegedly swindling his clientele out of half a million dollars. But then again, high-end habits die hard.
We've been trying to contact the South Bay offices of Masters Realty Group all afternoon, but all we're getting is a busy signal. (Probably the right day to leave the phone off the hook.)
The office appears to be located at 23505 Crenshaw Boulevard, in a nice part of Torrance:
Did you ever meet this supposed real-estate agent, or have any problems with his company? Please let us know.
[@simone_electra / swilson@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]
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