The personal shopper for alleged tax scam mastermind Harriette Walters pleaded guilty in federal court Monday, admitting that she took in hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of the largest corruption scandal in D.C. history.
Marilyn Yoon, 40, signed the plea deal in a Greenbelt court, admitting she knew that the checks Walters was writing to her were from bogus property tax refunds. Authorities allege that Yoon used the money to refurbish her Derwood home and to lavish gifts on her friends and family.
It’s the second plea agreement to come out of Greenbelt this month and sources familiar with the ongoing federal investigation say more are expected soon.
According to court papers, Yoon met Walters when “Mother Harriette” came into a Louis Vuitton shop at Tysons Corner.
The feds have accused Walters and her co-defendants of living the high life and buying high-end luxury goods, including Louis Vuitton purses. After Yoon took a job at Neiman Marcus, Walters followed her there and used Yoon to buy lavish merchandise.
Yoon was a surprise entry into the ongoing tax scandal. Until now, her name has not been mentioned in court papers.
Authorities continueto run down all leads in the desperate hope they can recover some of the more than $40 million they believe Walters and her friends took.
Monday’s plea agreement hangs on two bogus refund checks that Yoon took. The first, dated February 2007, was made out to “R.L. Real Estate,” in care of “S.C.,” or Sky Construction, the name of Yoon’s husband’s handyman service.
But SunTrust bank officials refused to cash the $483,940 check because the name on the account didn’t match the check, authorities said.
The second check, paying “S.C.C.” in care of “JKY” — or Yoon’s husband, Jong — was written out for $275,000. It was successfully cashed.
After cashing the second check, Yoon slipped about $125,000 to Walters’ brother, Richard, in care of another dummy company, Helmut Plumbing, authorities allege.
Federal investigators spotted those two checks early in their investigation, a top source said. Authorities believe Harriette Walters was doling out cash and gifts to Yoon as early as 2005.
Attempts to reach Yoon and her family were unsuccessful.
She’ll be sentenced on Sept. 12 and could get up to 10 years in prison.
