ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - The founder of a Korean gang in Annandale known as the Night Breeders has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for extorting businesses operating in the heart of the local Korean-American community's commercial district.

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Forty-four-year-old Han Sa Yu founded the Korean Night Breeders in 2006. His gang, which had up to 15 members, extorted Korean businesses in Annandale, especially those that were known to employ illegal immigrants.

Court records show that Yu, also known as "Thunder," modeled his gang after Asian organized crime syndicates and would teach fighting techniques to his fellow gang members.

The sentence of 17.5 years matched what was sought by federal prosecutors. Yu is eligible to receive a sentence reduction at a later date in exchange for cooperating with authorities.