Paul Hastings Provides Pro Bono Support to Taejon Christian International School In Fraud Investigation

March 27, 2017

Seoul – Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that the firm assisted the Taejon Christian International School (TCIS), a Christian missionary school based in South Korea, on a pro bono basis in the investigation of a US $5.5 million fraud perpetrated against the school.

Federal prosecutors from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York successfully prosecuted New York State resident William Cosme in connection with a scheme to defraud the Taejon Christian International School.

Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney, stated that a unanimous jury concluded that William Cosme defrauded the school out of money it needed to carry out its mission of educating children, and spent the money the school entrusted to him on his own lavish lifestyle. Cosme now faces prison time for his crimes and will be sentenced on June 21, 2017.

Jong Han Kim, Chair of the Seoul office of Paul Hastings, and a team of attorneys in the firm’s New York office assisted the Taejon Christian International School and its principal Dr. Thomas Penland from the time Mr. Cosme’s fraud was first discovered in 2011. Kim and his Paul Hastings team helped ensure that Mr. Cosme’s crimes were investigated and that he was brought to justice.
“We are honored to represent TCIS for such a good cause,” said Jong Han Kim. “We will continue to assist the school in its efforts to recover the funds so the money can be returned for the benefit of the students and their parents.”

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