A Seattle man with a history of violent behavior and threats was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for lying during an attempt to purchase a firearm. Filmore Doyoon Kim, 40, received the sentence in U.S. District Court in Seattle after he tried to buy a gun on February 13, 2025, shortly after sending threatening emails to his probation officer at the Washington State Department of Corrections.
U.S. District Judge Lauren King delivered the sentence at the top end of the guidelines range, stating, “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 records show that Kim was previously sentenced in 2022 to 15 months in prison for burglary after breaking into a neighbor’s apartment and assaulting him while his child watched. He left behind a note written in blood threatening further harm. Kim also has convictions for harassment involving threats against apartment managers and other residents.
While on probation for burglary, Kim sent death threats via email to his supervising probation officer. Shortly afterward, he attempted to buy a handgun from a federally licensed dealer but falsely claimed on required paperwork that he had not been convicted of any crime punishable by more than one year in jail. The background check exposed his conviction, leading the store to refuse the sale and notify law enforcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg urged the court to impose an 18-month sentence given Kim’s conduct: “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.”
Following his prison term, Judge King ordered Kim be placed on supervised release for three years.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Washington State Department of Corrections. Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg prosecuted the case.
