In a recent turn of events, Buena Park local Se Youn "Steve" Kim and his twin brother Hee Youn "Ted" Kim of Pomona face a slew of charges related to a clandestine revenue stream that failed to reach the ledgers of the Internal Revenue Service. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, the identical twins, who worked as MRI technicians, neglected to report over $1.1 million in income.
The 10-count federal indictment accuses the brothers of serving double roles—concealing income while running an illicit golf tee-time brokerage that operated on the fairways but outside the tax code’s bounds. Arrested on a Thursday morning, they were quickly arraigned on multiple charges: Steve faces two counts of tax evasion, one count of filing false tax documents, and two counts of willful failure to pay taxes. Ted faces an almost identical slate—two counts of tax evasion and three counts of willful tax neglect, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California.
It appears that between 2021 and 2023, the brothers drove a wedge between municipal golf course policies and their wallets, securing coveted early morning tee times and flipping them at a premium, a move that teed off not only local enthusiasts but also the legal system. The U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, reported that the Kims capitalized on several social media platforms, including KakaoTalk, for their commercial escapades.
The Kims funneled payments from golfers directly into personal accounts via platforms like Venmo and Zelle, later transferring the proceeds into their bank accounts. Through Birdie Tour Inc.—incorporated with Steve Kim as CEO—the scheme netted nearly $700,000 in untaxed income. Rather than paying their tax obligations, the brothers allegedly spent lavishly on luxury goods and leisure. According to the IRS Criminal Investigation team, the charges carry weighty consequences: up to five years in federal prison for each count of tax evasion and up to three years for falsifying tax documents. Both brothers have pleaded not guilty, with a trial date set for November 4, and Public Information Officer Ciaran McEvoy has taken the lead to disseminate information regarding the case.
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