Unbelievable?  Wer'e living through this awful nightmare!  I have verified everything I'm about to share with you!

On the evening of Sept. 7, 2016, I received a call from the US Embassy in Seoul, Korea informing me that my brother had been arrested at the airport for tafficking drugs into the country. Randy is a Senior aged 67, on heart medication, and resides in Oregon at a Senior Residence.  As I was to learn, Randywas the victim of a SCAM.  He had been lured into traveling to Seoul by scammers to receive millions of dollars promiced as an "Inheritance".

 This was not the kind of scam you regularly hear about, this was far more insidious.

There were no "up front" fees requested.  Instead, he would be provided with airline tickets and travel expenses to first travel to South America to sign and pick up the "necessary" papers, and then sent to Singapore (via Seoul) to deliver the paperwork and receive his "inheritance".  Because of this "twist" and dreams of receiving a fabulously large sum of money, he agreed to go. While in South America his contact asked him to do a "favor" and take some wrapped "gifts" to be delivered to the head of the "Inheritance Commission" overseas.  Of course he would....he's just that kind of person.  That should have rung some bells, but unfortunately it didn't!  Once he landed in Seoul, he was arrested and now is awaiting prosecution.

With Randy's help the "bad guys" were arrested at the airport!  However, in 1988 Korea signed the provisions of the United Nations Covention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs which directs and presumes a person to be guilty and no extenuating (reasons) need to be considered. So even though Randy had no knowledge of what was in the "gifts, and aided in the capture of the "bad guys", he still can be considered guilty as he did carry the drugs into the county.  These are very serious charges carrying a sentence of 10 years to life.

So now we have the task of proving Randy was the unwitting victim of a horrific scam.  We have the documentation, timelines, etc, but this is a difficult and an expensive defence.  Without counsel to prove he was the unwitting dupe of the perpetrators of this scam, he most certainly will serve a long jail sentence.  My family and I do not have the funds to retain an attorney and we are desperate to do everything we can to help Randy. We would be so very grateful for any help you can give our brother Randy.  Thank you!  Renee Hellman and Pat Stoinski

Oh yes, these are pictures of Randy and I at younger and happier times.  If you have any questions please contact me, Renee