Security firm based out of crime suspect’s gym
A new security company is operating out of a Richmond gym owned by alleged money launderer Paul King Jin, Postmedia has learned.
Blackcore Security and Investigations was registered in Victoria on May 11, 2020, listing its address as 121851 No. 5 Rd — the building the B.C. government alleges was purchased with the proceeds of crime and alleges is owned by Jin.
The director of civil forfeiture has filed a lawsuit against Jin and his wife Xiaoqi Wei, saying the four-year-old gym should be forfeited to the government as “an instrument of unlawful activity.”
“Mr. Jin has been engaged in large-scale money laundering activities involving licensed casinos, illegal gaming houses and an unlicensed financial institution since in or about 2012,” the director alleges.
The lawsuit notes that Jin’s son Jesse Xin Jia is one of the directors of the gym.
Jia is also the founder of Blackcore, according to its incorporation documents. He lists his address as being the same as the security company and the gym. Jia is also one of three listed directors of Blackcore, which says on its website that it offers “close protection officers and bodyguards for dignitaries, the film industry, VIPs, public speakers and celebrities.”
“We understand the need for privacy and recognize the cultural and ethnic sensitivities of our clients,” the site says. “All of our members are former military and law enforcement, selected and qualified close protection officers to a (Security Industry Association) standard to ensure the highest level of protective services. Our CPOs are level three medics, must maintain a high level of fitness and periodically undergo physical and psychological evaluations.”
There is no sign on the outside of the 31,000-square-foot building indicating Blackcore is located there. But Blackcore director Trevor Carroll told Postmedia Tuesday the company is open to the public “by appointment only.”
Carroll said that neither Jin nor any of his relatives are involved in the security and investigation company. Carroll states on his LinkedIn page that he is a manager of the World Champion Club, the Jin gym in the No. 5 building.
Asked about the allegations against Jin, Carroll said: “Have any of those allegations been proven?”
“I think a lot of those allegations are mis-proven, but just to be honest with you, I don’t really want to answer any more questions regarding this matter,” Carroll said.
He would not provide any information about Blackcore’s history or discuss who else is involved in the company. The only directors listed on corporate documents are Carroll, Jia and a Squamish resident named Jamie Flynn.
“I can’t give you that information either because we have other people that are involved in our business that are working with us,” Carroll said.
“We don’t really want to make it public to be honest.”
Jin’s wife Xiaoqi Wei, who is on the City of Richmond business licence as the gym’s owner, said she did not to know anything about Blackcore when reached by telephone on Tuesday.
“I don’t know. I don’t need to answer your questions,” Wei said. She said she would get her lawyer to call back, but no one called.
Security companies in B.C. must be licensed under the Security Services Act. Blackcore was granted a one-year licence on July 3, 2020, government records show.
Hope Latham, of the Ministry of Public Safety, said: “We’re unable to comment specifically on licensed businesses and their members.”
“Business applicants undergo a suitability assessment prior to the issuance of a licence and, as part of that suitability assessment, assessment of the suitability of the business’ controlling members is undertaken,” Latham said in an emailed statement.
“Under section 4 of the Security Services Act, the deputy registrar can conduct suitability reviews at any time if a situation changes.”
Blackcore isn’t the only company registered as operating out of the Jin building on No. 5 Road.
A company called Kirkland College, formed two years ago, according to corporate records, also lists its address at the large gym.
Kirkland’s director Xichen Xu did not respond to messages Thursday. He is also listed as a director of the Global Mandarin Connection Corporation, which offers student placements in Chinese colleges.