Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue

sponsored by
News


JOHN L. SMITH: Fraud investigation of Las Vegas police official might have legs

Who was that quietly paying a visit to the federal public defender's office earlier this week?

It was none other than Metro Lt. Ben Kim, the former head of the department's fraud detail who is now under investigation, suspected of committing fraudulent acts of his own.


Most Popular Stories
  • Obama dings Las Vegas — again
  • Obama dings Las Vegas — again
  • 'YOU DON'T BLOW A BUNCH OF CASH IN VEGAS ...': Obama remark reopens wound
  • LAUGHLIN EDGEWATER: Two dead in casino car crash
  • NORM: Ad's Strip scenes raised eyebrows
  • Tourist describes chaos as car plows into Laughlin casino, killing two
  • Tourist describes chaos as car plows into Laughlin casino, killing two
  • Shutting down the Ritz
  • Shutting down the Ritz
  • NORM: $1 million wager on Super Bowl approved
  • Former commander of USS Cole considers run against Reid
  • IMAGES FROM 1860S: Photos show historic Nevada
  • Fighter battles rare disease that shatters mixed martial arts dream




  • Investigators aren't making public statements, but the word is Kim has started to communicate with the FBI and Metro. Now there's no telling where the trail might lead.

    Kim, a decorated department veteran, is intimately familiar with the politics and business of Southern Nevada's Asian-American community. He also knows the inner workings of the Police Department. In addition, he's a key player in the ongoing investigation of possible criminal activity associated with some valley homeowners associations.

    Kim has been on leave from the department, and I hear he's getting his retirement paperwork in order. His home, valued at $1.2 million, according to the Clark County assessor's office, is now in default.

    Obviously, Kim has his share of problems. But he's in a position to give others even bigger problems.

    Who knows where this will lead?

    MIRACLE LEAGUE: DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? THOSE WHO DROP BY THE MIRACLE LEAGUE BASEBALL FIELD AT 101 S. RANCHO DRIVE WILL SURELY BELIEVE THIS COMMUNITY HAS A HEART WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING DISABLED YOUNG PEOPLE PLAY BALL. THE SPECIALLY DESIGNED DIAMOND IS SET TO OPEN WITH A CEREMONY AT 12:30 P.M. SATURDAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MIRACLELEAGUELASVEGAS.COM.

    SEASON OF SHARING: Christmas Can Cure collects donations to send injured soldiers and their families on vacations. The charity's 5K and 1-mile run fundraiser is set for 8 a.m. Dec. 12 at Paseo Verde Park in Henderson. ... Meanwhile, the dedicated Marines behind the annual Toys for Tots campaign are hoping to collect 50,000 toys for needy kids this year. Drop off your donations at 3228 Channel 8 Drive through Dec. 14.

    HOMELESS HOUSING: Lutheran Social Services of Nevada continues its efforts to address the homeless issue with the opening of its new building at 2656 Aarondavid Drive that will provide transitional housing at a critical time.

    Mayor Oscar Goodman, no stranger to the issue and the controversy surrounding it, will speak at the opening ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

    GOOD FIGHT: BARBARA BUCKLEY WON'T BE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, BUT SHE CONTINUES TO MAKE HER PRESENCE FELT AT THE LEGAL AID CENTER OF SOUTHERN NEVADA, WHICH THIS WEEK RECEIVED A $325,000 GRANT TO ASSIST WITH ITS CHILDREN'S ATTORNEYS PROJECT FROM THE NEVADA WOMEN'S PHILANTHROPY ORGANIZATION.

    ON THE BOULEVARD: On the street, "Bobby the Midget" Krauthamer turns 82. Rest easy, little big man. You outlived Lefty. Who would have taken those odds? ... In the islands, "Ali Baba" Kaohu, who knows so much about gambling he's in Nevada's Black Book, turns 72. ... Gambler Lem Banker still taking care of the business of betting and helping out former fight champs. ... Retired casino host Allan "Jamup" Hirshorn continues his run as the unofficial mayor of Mount Charleston, where term limits are not in effect.

    BOULEVARD II: I might not have a medical degree, but I cured Dr. Lonnie Hammargren's injured knee without surgery. The bad knee actually belongs to Hammargren's wife, Sandy.

    BOULEVARD III: Do you suppose attorney David Chesnoff is red-faced after seeing client Dr. Mark Kabins,wisely cut a deal to cooperate with the government in the doctor-lawyer medical malpractice investigation?

    BOULEVARD IV: Metro sources confirm Lt. Bob Sebby in the financial crimes section is taking a "stress-related" retirement.

    BOULEVARD V: Receiving plenty of responses on both sides of this week's column on a recent raid of a local Hells Angeles clubhouse. So why are Metro investigators so interested in collecting jackets, patches, and photographs of members and associates?

    Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 20 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    Lt. Robert Sebby addicted to crack no stress leave jus 50 thou a year !! Karma wrote on December 23, 2009 08:19 PM: Kai degner also

    doug is next on Gods' list


    Eric wrote on December 10, 2009 07:22 PM: Has Ben Kim even been charged with anything? I know lots of people who bought expensive houses in the last five years, so what? That's how it was here. John Smith do you have any facts to back up what your write or are you like Fox news and just make fact-less accusations?


    Joe Nama wrote on November 29, 2009 04:00 AM: Sherifi doggie filly gillispy a stone cold red nek
    an wif bea ter


    Joe Bama wrote on November 29, 2009 03:57 AM: L v m p d sh e r I f
    f I s a w I f e b e a t e r


    Joe Bama wrote on November 21, 2009 01:47 AM: Maybe it means he was like a lot of other dummies who paid 1.2 million dollars for a $300.000 house?


    songbird wrote on November 20, 2009 10:08 PM: Kim sing out loud and clear and don't leave anyone involved out-take em down with you


    Jonathan Friedrich wrote on November 20, 2009 08:49 PM: Was the Fox watching the HOA hen house?
    I hope not.Time will tell.
    The Legislature created this mess by creating a law know as NRS 116.
    How long can the abuses that the Legislature keeps enacting against Homeowners be tolorated?
    There are nearly one million people living in HOAs in Nevada.
    This past session 15 Bills were passed dealing with HOAs. Many were NOT homeowner friendly.
    One took our rights away in that we no longer have a right to vote on an assessment to fund the reserves.The Board can do as they please.
    The Legislature created the Office of the Ombudsman to protect owners from their Boards' abuses but didn't give that Office any teeth or power to stop runaway or corrupt Boards.
    May-be the FBI can step in to do a good "house cleaning" job. We surely need it.
    The Real Estate Division with both the Compliance Section & the Ombudsman are drowing in complaints and don't do much to clean up the constant violations of law or to protect homeowners.
    Mr. Bruce Alitt the Chief of the Compliance section has publicly stated many times that his section is "in the business of resolving desputes and not punishing any one".
    Tell that to the many people who have been threatened & fined by their Boards for petty "offenses" or "violations".
    There are a few Attorneys who make a LOT of money from Homeowner Association Disputes.
    The FBI raided one such Attorneys office last year.
    The FBI must be busy theses days in Nevada looking at what is happening in almost 3000 HOAs in our State!
    Now I read that they may be investigating a Metro Cop.
    Are you listening W. W.?
    It is time the voice of the homeowner is heard.
    Want to do something to stop this run away train? Call me 822 4555 or e mail me.


    money flies off the shelf in inventory loss wrote on November 20, 2009 06:59 PM: http://www.lvrj.com/news/10284922.html


    nothing compared to the fraud at the clark county fire department wrote on November 20, 2009 06:57 PM:

    but who cares.

    it is only money.


    1whoknows wrote on November 20, 2009 04:55 PM: What goes around comes around.Well Kim, keep your eyes open when you get slapped in the face. Now your going to retire. Why, so you can collect the benefit's before you go to prison. Ah, too smart for that. You will sing like a bird to avoid that.

    No more threats or intimadation by you. The Asian community will be a better place once your gone.


    Read All Comments