Two identical twin brothers and MRI technicians, Se Youn “Steve” Kim and Hee Youn “Ted” Kim, have been charged with failing to report over $1.1 million in income to the IRS, including earnings from a golf tee-time brokering business, the Justice Department announced Friday.
Between 2021 and 2023, officials stated that the Kims operated the business by reserving and reselling thousands of golf tee times at public courses across Southern California, creating a near-monopoly on early morning slots and charging fees that inflated public access costs.
They collected payments through personal accounts and transferred funds into their bank accounts.
Steve Kim faces charges including tax evasion, submitting false tax documents, and willful failure to pay taxes.
Ted Kim is charged with tax evasion and willful failure to pay tax. Both pleaded not guilty and were released on $20,000 bond, with a trial set for November 4.
Despite earning nearly $700,000 from the brokering business and additional income as MRI technicians, they deliberately concealed income totaling over $1.1 million from the IRS for the tax years 2022 and 2023. Instead of paying outstanding taxes, they spent on luxury items and a Hawaii timeshare.
If convicted, each brother could face up to five years in prison for tax evasion counts, with additional penalties for other charges.