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Conviction in Celine Extortion Scheme
Another one bites the dust in the extortion shakedown involving Celine Dion's husband.
Ae Ho Kwon, a minister from Pasadena, California, has been convicted of soliciting millions of dollars in hush money from Rene Angelil. Prosecutors say Kwon, 52, threatened to go public with an unfounded rape allegation by his wife, Yun Kyeong Kwon Sung.
Kwon was found guilty Monday on felony charges of extortion, conspiracy and soliciting a bribe in the Clark County District Court in Las Vegas. Judge Jackie Glass ordered Kwon to remain in custody until a May 12 sentencing hearing, when he faces up to 12 years in prison or deportation to Korea.
His 49-year-old wife was convicted in October and, in January, was sentenced to 28 months to five years in prison for her role in the plot.
Kwon's lawyers say he will appeal the verdict.
Angelil's lawyer, meanwhile, says he is pleased with the outcome of the case.
"Mr. Angelil and his counsel appreciate the efforts of law enforcement and the district attorney's office in bringing this gentleman to justice," David Chesnoff told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "It sends a message that, just because you are well known, it doesn't mean you can be extorted."
Kwon and his wife were arrested in January 2003 after their lawyers allegedly demanded $13.5 million to keep quiet about a purported March 2000 incident in which Angelil supposedly sexually assaulting Sung at a Las Vegas hotel.
Angelil has maintained his innocence to the rape allegation, but he did pay the couple more than $2 million in 2002 to settle a civil lawsuit and ostensibly protect his and Dion's public image, according to his lawyers. It was when the Kwons allegedly got greedy that he enlisted the help of authorities.
Dion, who has remained mum on the ongoing case, has been busy selling out shows as a headliner-in-residence at Caesar's Palace. And her most recent release, a baby-happy album called Miracle, has been certified platinum.
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