Social Security Administration Employee Charged with Attempting to Induce a Social Security Beneficiary for Prostitution

Oct 24, 2024

BOSTON – A Social Security Administration (SSA) employee was arrested today for attempting to persuade a Social Security beneficiary to cross state lines to engage in prostitution.

Dae Sung Kim, 35, of Auburn, Mass., was charged with one count of attempting to induce a person to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution.

According to the criminal complaint, in March 2024, Kim handled an in-person visit at the Gardner SSA field office from an individual seeking Social Security benefits after losing her job. After redirecting the individual to another SSA field office near her residence in another state, Kim allegedly called the individual, using the phone number he obtained from SSA’s computer system. Kim allegedly indicated that he understood she was in a difficult situation and stated that maybe they could “work something out” that would benefit them both.  

During a call monitored by law enforcement later that month, Kim allegedly again stated to the individual that they could “help each other out” and proposed giving the individual money in exchange for sex. In several subsequent text messages, Kim allegedly suggested that the individual travel to Massachusetts to meet him, offering to pay $100 to have sex in a car at a hotel parking lot. When Kim traveled to the hotel parking lot to execute his plan in October 2024, he was confronted by law enforcement.

The charge of attempting to induce a person to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations and the Fitchburg and Gardner Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan D. O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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