Former General Motors Manager Took $3M+ In Bribes In South OC

IRVINE, CA — A former General Motors manager from Irvine was found guilty Thursday of taking more than $3 million in bribes from a South Korean parts supplier in return for a major contract with the automaker.

Hyoung Nam So, 47, also known as Brian So, was found guilty of bribery conspiracy on the seventh day of trial in downtown Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr. set sentencing for May 24, at which time So will face up to five years in federal prison, prosecutors noted.

The jury heard evidence that the parts supplier paid So a total of $3.45 million as payment for rigging the bids on a contract to supply GM with auto painting, window film and molding.

Homeland Security Investigations seized $3.19 million believed to be bribery proceeds from a private vault in Los Altos, in Santa Clara County, in 2017, and federal authorities subsequently returned the money to South Korean authorities, papers filed in Los Angeles federal court show.

So was a manager at the time in GM's Global Purchasing and Supply Chain organization in Detroit, where he oversaw the supply of parts used to build automobile interiors.

He was charged in March 2022 with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said the auto parts supplier was prosecuted in South Korea for offenses related to the bribery scheme.