Two Queens men were arrested last Thursday for allegedly stealing more than $390,000 from a Port Washington-based cosmetics company, according to Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.
The men, Seul Han, 31, and Hyun Joon Kim, 44, both pleaded not guilty on Thursday to second-degree grand larceny and nine counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.
Kiss Products Inc. in Port Washington found in an audit that Han, the logistics manager, stole $390,195 from July 28, 2014, to March 18, 2016, by submitting false invoices, Singas said.
Kiss Products could not be reached for comment.
“These defendants allegedly faked transactions that never happened to line their pockets with more than $390,000, stolen from a Port Washington cosmetics company,” Singas said. “Thanks to the company’s diligent investigation and the work of our prosecutors, we will hold these alleged con artists accountable for their crimes.”
The fake transactions went unnoticed because Han supported the payments with approximately 100 falsified documents, including invoices, bills, commercial invoices and packing lists, which were created by Kim, Singas said.
The company uncovered the scheme when it reviewed Han’s work after he resigned when he was questioned about a forged doctor’s note.
The company checks were made payable to Keum Sand USA, a company where Kim was a principal, and then deposited into a bank account, Singas said.
Kim received 60 percent of the money, and Han received 40 percent.
Han and Kim allegedly used the money for vacations, credit card purchases, airline travel, car leases, computer equipment and other household products, Singas said.
Bail was set at $30,000 bond or $20,000 cash for Han, and $20,000 bond or $12,500 cash for Kim.
Han was due back in court on Wednesday, and Kim was due back on Thursday.
Singas said if convicted of the top count, both could face a maximum of five to 15 years in jail.
Han’s lawyer, Farid Ahmed, and Kim’s lawyer, Megan Rha, declined to comment.
