Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. today announced the indictment of BRANDON DAE UP KIEHM, 45, for allegedly stealing approximately $272,000 from a 44-year-old woman in a “romance scam” by stealing funds she thought were being used to purchase a home together. KIEHM is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree. [1]
“A woman thought she was buying a home with her boyfriend, when, allegedly, he stole approximately $272,000 of her hard-earned money. We allege that Brandon Kiehm crafted a relationship on a web of lies, preying on his girlfriend’s trust again and again,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Romance scams are all too common, and our office is here to prosecute egregious conduct like this. This is an ongoing investigation – please call us at 212-335-8900 if you may be a victim.”
As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, in 2019, KIEHM met a woman on Bumble, an online dating application. He introduced himself as Dae Up Lee Kim and told her that he was a finance professional who had graduated from Stanford. They began what she thought was a serious romantic relationship and lived together in the woman’s apartment until 2021.
In early 2020, KIEHM convinced her to purchase a home on Decatur Street in Brooklyn that was being sold at an auction. She was traveling for work and unable to attend herself.
KIEHM allegedly told her that he had attended the February 2020 auction, that they were the second-highest bidders, and that to maintain that second-place spot, they needed to send a cashier’s check to the trustee of the property. KIEHM, who had communicated with the broker for the property over email, sent the woman the terms and conditions of the sale and instructed her to send a cashier’s check for $78,250 to someone whom his girlfriend understood to be the broker.
Two weeks later, KIEHM allegedly told her that the bid from the highest bidder had fallen through. He instructed her to send additional funds to the same purported broker, and provided her with specific wire information, including the bank and account number. She complied and sent two wire transfers in the amounts of $86,750 and $107,000 respectively. KIEHM also gave her a contact of sale, which she signed.
As alleged, KIEHM did not actually attend the auction or bid on the property. The individual who received the money was an associate of KIEHM’s. The funds that the victim sent were quickly withdrawn as cash or transferred into an account jointly held in the names of KIEHM and his associate, before also being withdrawn as cash.
The woman subsequently discovered an identification card in the name of Brandon Kiehm, a name she did not recognize, and then found additional identification cards and mail addressed to that same name. KIEHM admitted that his real name was Brandon Dae Up Kiehm. The woman contacted the broker of the Decatur Street property, who informed her that KIEHM had never placed a bid.
Assistant D.A.s Nina Vershuta (Financial Frauds Bureau) and Dennis Dillon (Financial Frauds Bureau) are handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Hope Korenstein (Deputy Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau), Kofi Sansculotte (Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau), Judy Salwen (Deputy Chief of the Investigation Division) and Executive Assistant D.A. Jodie Kane (Chief of the Investigation Division).
Financial Frauds Bureau’s Sofia Albi (Investigative Analyst), Reilly Fletcher (Investigative Analyst), and Brianna Vaca (Paralegal); Investigation Bureau’s Jacob Diamond (Senior Investigator), Brian Longaro (Senior Investigator), Daniel Walker (Investigator), Antonio Shilinsky (Investigator), Michael Minero (Sergeant), and Samuel Morales (Lieutenant); and Forensic Accounting and Financial Investigations Unit’s Chris Fenty (Financial Investigator) under the supervision of Irene Serrapica (Deputy Bureau Chief) and Robert Demarest (Chief) are providing invaluable assistance with the case. Former Paralegal Krisellie Acevedo (Financial Frauds Bureau) and Assistant D.A. Brianna Sheehan (Trial Bureau 40) also provided assistance.
Defendant Information:
BRANDON DAE UP KIEHM A/K/A
DAE UP LEE KIM A/K/A
DAEUP LEE KIM A/K/A
DAE UP KIEHM
New York, NY
Charged:
- Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.