PHILADELPHIA, PA — A Montgomery County man has been indicted on a federal charge after prosecutors alleged he impersonated an FBI agent while attempting to conduct a security check at a Philadelphia supermarket.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a federal grand jury charged Seok Joon Lee, 54, of Jenkintown, with impersonating a federal officer and acting as such.
The indictment alleges that on or about April 22, Lee entered a Philadelphia supermarket wearing a ballistic vest, a law enforcement-style duty belt and a holstered firearm loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition, along with two spare magazines.
Federal prosecutors allege Lee identified himself to a security guard as an FBI agent and attempted to conduct a security inspection of the store. According to the indictment, Lee later told responding Philadelphia police officers that he was “undercover FBI” and claimed his credentials and FBI identification number could be found elsewhere.
If convicted, Lee faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison and a fine.
The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Philadelphia Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Miller and Nelson S.T. Thayer Jr. are prosecuting the case.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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