Photo Courtesy of Queens DA’s Office
The defendants allegedly sold medical face masks from a Whitestone grocery store at an inflated price.
By Forum Staff
Two borough residents have been charged with allegedly selling medical face masks from a Whitestone grocery store at an inflated price, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and the NYPD announced Friday.
Tae Kyong Kim, 49, of College Point, and Jung Soo Lee, 61, ofBayside were both issued desk appearance tickets andordered to appear in court on Sept. 4. At that time, Kim and Lee will be formally charged with a New York City AdministrativeCode violation under the Department of Consumer and WorkerProtections Emergency Price Gouging Rule declaring it an “unconscionable trade practice” to increase the price of essential goodsand services during an imminent threat to public safety more than 10percent above the price at which the same good could have previouslybeen purchased by consumers 30 to 60 days prior to the March 15, 2020 rule, Katz said, while noting that face masks—mandated to be worn by anyone outside whocannot socially distance from others—cost about $1 each.
According to the charges, an undercover detective visited theRaspberry Farm grocery store on 14th Avenue in Whitestone last Wednesday shortly after 8 a.m. Inside the store, the detective noticedseveral displays for boxes of face masks along with signs with purchaseprices for the masks. The price tag for a box of 2 KF94 masks was $10.The “buyer” picked up a box and the merchant allegedly charged him$10.
According to the charges, a seconddetective visited the store shortly after noon the same day and saw12 boxes of 10 KN95 masks listed for $45 each. This “buyer”allegedly purchased a single box for $45 from the cashier. Policeallegedly recovered 24 boxes containing 10 KN95 masks, 35 boxes containing 50 disposable face masks, 31 boxes containing 4 disposablemasks, 153 single packs of KF94 face masks, and 67 dust-proof facemasks.
According to the charges, law enforcement executed a court-authorized search warrant Thursday at
the grocery store. Police allegedly recovered invoices showing themanagers paid $30 for the KN95 masks they were re-selling for $45. Andthey allegedly charged $39 for a box of 50 disposable masks, which theyallegedly purchased for $24. Kim and Lee allegedly told police that they had increased the prices of everything in theirstore by 50 percent.
“Sadly, the outbreak ofthe coronavirus has inspired greed and manipulation. We are still in themidst of a crisis and people are still dying every day from COVID-19. Weare actively seeking out individuals and businesses that would takeadvantage of people’s real fears during this pandemic to line their own pockets.”
Katz urged Queens residents that are aware of a business or individual inflating the price
of needed personal protection equipment to call her office at (718) 286-6673.
“The individuals charged in this case put profits over the health of their fellow New Yorkers by
charging exorbitant fees for face masks that could save people’s lives,” Police Commissioner Dermot Shea added.“These arrests should serve as a warning: The NYPD is vigilant ininvestigating those who prey on New Yorkers and attempt to financiallybenefit during the pandemic.”
