MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that two Queens men have been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $390,000 from a Port Washington-based cosmetics company.
Seul Han, 31 and Hyun Joon Kim, 44 were arraigned yesterday before District Court Judge Hohauser and charged with Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree (a C felony) and nine counts of Falsifying Business Records in the 1st Degree (an E felony). Bail was set at $30,000 bond or $20,000 cash for Han and $20,000 bond or $12,500 cash for Kim. Han is due back in court on Jan. 11 and Kim is due back on Jan. 12. If convicted of the top count, the defendants face a maximum of five to 15 years in prison.
“These defendants allegedly faked transactions that never happened to line their pockets with more than $390,000, stolen from a Port Washington cosmetics company,” said DA Singas. “Thanks to the company’s diligent investigation and the work of our prosecutors, we will hold these alleged con artists accountable for their crimes.”
DA Singas said that while Han was the logistics manager of the cosmetics company, he was responsible for importing items such as nail, eyelash and hair care products. From July 28, 2014, to March 18, 2016, he allegedly stole $390,195.00 from the company by having the company pay for products by check that it never actually ordered or received. The defendant supported the alleged scheme in the company’s record keeping with approximately 100 falsified documents, consisting of invoices, bills, commercial invoices and packing lists.
The checks drawn on the company’s account for these fictitious products were made payable to Keum Sang USA, the principal of which was Hyun Joon Kim, who was in on the alleged scheme and who generated many of the false documents. Kim allegedly deposited the checks given to him by Han into a bank account and then split the proceeds with Han on an approximately 60% (Kim)/40% (Han) basis.
The alleged scheme was uncovered when Han returned from leave with the cosmetics company and allegedly presented his employer with a forged doctor’s note allowing him to return. When he was questioned about this, he resigned. After he left, there were several issues that caused them to review his work, at which time they discovered invoices for fictitious product purchases for which he had been responsible. They then conducted an audit to identify each of these “purchases.”
Han and Kim allegedly used the funds for credit card purchases, vacations, airline travel, an automobile lease, computer equipment and various household expenses.
Assistant District Attorney Peter Mancuso of DA Singas’ Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau is prosecuting the case. Han is represented by Farid Ahmed, Esq. and Kim is represented Megan Rha, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
KIM, HYUN JOON
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SEUL HAN
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