A Seattle man with a history of violent threats and assault was sentenced to 18 months in prison for making false statements while attempting to purchase a firearm. Filmore Doyoon Kim, 40, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Lauren King after he tried to buy a handgun on February 13, 2025. The attempt came just days after Kim sent threatening emails to his probation officer at the Washington State Department of Corrections.
In court, Judge King stated: “The crime is extremely serious… repeatedly threating the life of a corrections officer and continuing to threaten others with violence. You are a danger to the public.”
Court documents show that Kim had previously been sentenced in 2022 to 15 months in prison for burglary after breaking into a neighbor’s apartment and beating him unconscious in front of the victim’s child. He left behind a note written in blood threatening to kill the neighbor. Kim also has prior harassment convictions involving threats against apartment managers and other residents.
While still on probation for burglary, Kim threatened his supervising probation officer by email before attempting to buy a handgun at a federally licensed firearms dealer. On required paperwork, he falsely claimed he had not been convicted of any crime punishable by more than one year in jail. The background check revealed his conviction, prompting the store to deny the sale and notify law enforcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg argued for an 18-month sentence, citing both Kim’s recent threats and his efforts to evade background check laws meant to prevent dangerous individuals from obtaining guns. “Kim’s offense conduct was extremely serious. He intentionally subverted the background check laws designed to keep guns away from dangerous people – like himself. The larger context of Kim’s attempted firearm purchase – immediately after threatening to kill his supervising CCO and declaring, ‘Don’t forget I can buy gun’ – makes his offense conduct even more concerning,” Greenberg wrote.
Following completion of his prison term, Kim will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Washington State Department of Corrections. Prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
