‘Mayor of Chinatown’ feeling pressure in corruption probe

Around Metro, Lt. Ben Kim is known as the "Mayor of Chinatown." Over the years, he has developed personal and political connections with Southern Nevada's Asian-American community.

Now the unofficial mayor, a decorated cop who has made plenty of friends and some foes inside the police department, finds himself the target of an ongoing FBI and Metro corruption investigation that stretches into areas of Las Vegas life that rarely make the newspaper.

Law enforcement and legal community sources with knowledge of the scope of the case say Kim has emerged as a central figure in the investigation. Now sources say Kim is under pressure to cooperate, as at least one other target already has done. Attempts to reach Kim for this story were unsuccessful.

The investigation has a number of moving parts, each revealing an aspect of Kim's complicated life. His name first surfaced in connection with a business partnership with Leon Benzer and attorney David Amesbury at the Courthouse Café downtown. Sources have confirmed Amesbury is cooperating with the investigation. That puts pressure on Benzer and Kim, and you can bet investigators are scrutinizing every small-business loan Kim has ever signed for the slightest evidence of fraud.

Kim's wife, Lisa Nicklin Kim, is president of Platinum Management Services, which manages homeowners associations and has received extensive remodeling from Benzer through his Silver Lining Construction. Benzer's company surfaces often in connection with construction defect litigation and repair, especially in cases involving Platinum Management and local litigator Nancy Quon.

For her part, Quon's record of successful settlement is the envy of the practice and has generated more than $100 million in recent years.

That relationship is also being investigated for evidence of conspiracy.

According to the Clark County assessor's office, the Kims own a 5,624-square-foot home in Henderson's Anthem Country Club on Dry Brook Trail with a taxable value exceeding $1.2 million. A downtown bar and grill, a $1 million home: Civil service work pays better than I thought.

The HOA investigation has uncovered evidence of a cozy relationship between current and former Metro cops and key players.

In addition to Kim, the names of former Sgt. Frank Sutton and former officer Morris Mattingly have surfaced. Kim has known Mattingly more than 20 years, according to a deposition in a construction defect lawsuit.

Former Metro officer Christopher Van Cleef, a 25-year veteran, took his own life on Sept. 30, 2008, after being visited by FBI agents investigating HOA deals.

Kim is also a generous contributor to several political campaigns. Frankly, I've never heard of a working cop giving thousands of dollars to U.S. Senate and congressional candidates, but that's precisely what Kim has done.

He also has gained a reputation for his connections inside the politically conscious Asian business community. Back in 2002, those connections boiled onto local news pages when Kim was investigated by Metro's Internal Affairs unit in connection with a break-in at the Las Vegas Korean Association. No charges were filed in the matter, but the incident illustrated Kim's loyalty to past Korean Association president and liquor store magnate Hae un Lee.

Several Metro veterans I've interviewed call Kim a man of personal integrity who is very loyal to the Korean community. Others are less kind. Now that he has taken a leave of absence, top Metro officers -- even those who want him to retire -- are reluctant to speak about him publicly.

Add it all up and you have the makings of a very complex character. Do investigators have a corrupt cop on their hands, one who might be able to help solve several challenging criminal cases?

Win or lose, Kim's days as the well-connected mayor of Chinatown appear to be over.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.