## Brothers Face Tax โevasion Chargesโ in Alleged Golf Tee time Scheme
Two Southern California brothers have been arrested and โcharged with federalโข tax evasion stemming โfrom a scheme toโ profit from reselling coveted golf tee times. Se Youn “Steve” Kim, โ41, and Hee Youn “Ted” Kim, 41, pleaded notโฃ guilty following their arrest Thursday morning.
According to an โขindictmentโค filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, the โคbrothers operated aโข tee time brokering business from 2021 to 2023, acquiringโข thousands of reservation slots at golf courses nationwide, including at least 17โ public courses in Southern California.Theyโ reportedly utilized platformsโข like โขKakaoTalk,a Korean instant messaging app,to connect with customers.Prosecutors allege the โKim brothers secured popular tee times – notably early morning slots – immediately upon their release to the public, โeffectively creating a monopolyโข on access to Southern california golf courses. โThis practice has been a source of frustration for local golfers, as previously reported by the *los Angeles Times*.
The brothers allegedly received nearly $700,000 in revenueโ from the tee time brokering business between 2021 andโค 2023, withโข customers paying reservation fees through applications like Venmo and Zelle. The indictment further claims โฃthe brothers failed toโข report a combined โ$1.1 million in income to theโค Internal Revenue Service โฃfor 2022 and 2023, and also neglected to โฃpay assessed tax debts.
Instead of settling their taxโ obligations, theโข prosecution alleges the Kim brothers used the funds for luxury purchases atโ high-end retailers including Chanel, Cartier, Prada, and Louisโ Vuitton.
In a previous interview with the *Los Angelesโค Times* lastโ year, Ted Kim โขmaintained his innocence, statingโ he was simply booking tee times โfor himself and did not โฃemploy bots or engage in illegal activity.He also claimed to be assisting elderly Korean golfers who struggle with the online reservation system, stating, “I’m just helping Korean seniorsโฆbecause โฃthey have a right to play golf.”
Joseph Lee, a critic of tee โtime brokers who assisted in the investigation, expressed relief at the charges. “it’sโ justice,” he said. โค”Authorities have finally recognized โthe โseriousness of the issue.”
Attorneys for Ted Kim and Steve Kim have not yet issued comprehensive responses.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details becomes available.