Cabang skips arraignment

Warrant issued for his arrest

Star-Bulletin staff

A federal judge issued a bench warrant today for comedian Mel Cabang, who failed to show up for his arraignment on charges that he ran a sports betting operation and filed false income tax returns.

Court-appointed attorney Pamela Tamashiro said she believed Cabang was in Honolulu and did not pose a flight risk but gave no explanation for his absence.

Deputy U.S. Attorney Leslie Osborne said an Internal Revenue Service agent visited Cabang at his home on April 17 to confiscate Cabang's car. The agent reminded him of his court appearance and offered to give him a ride, but Cabang said he did not plan to appear in court.

Federal officials allege that Cabang ran a betting operation out of his Kamaole Street home in Kalama Valley from 1991 to 1995. They believe it was one of the largest operations in the state, with daily profits of $300 to $500 during football and basketball seasons.

The government also accuses Cabang of reporting his income on tax returns for those years as $112,517, when he should have reported $602,476.

Cabang was originally issued a summons to appear in court last Wednesday, but Tamashiro said Cabang was out of town when the penal summons was issued. With a bench warrant, U.S. marshals will pick up Cabang and hold him until he appears in court, probably within 48-72 hours of issuing the warrant, Tamashiro said.

Asked if Cabang would use Hawaiian sovereignty as a defense, Tamashiro said she had heard that "floating about" but hadn't discussed defense with him.

A federal grand jury indicted Cabang April 8 on 77 criminal counts, including money laundering.