Charges filed in It's a tale of spicy shrimp, money and guns.
shrimp truck
extortion
The owner of Giovanni’s Aloha
Shrimp Wagon says he was
threatened at gunpoint
Star-Bulletin staffA business dispute involving the award-winning Giovanni's Aloha Shrimp wagon in Kahuku has led to charges of robbery, theft, kidnapping and assault against 46-year-old Connie Aragona.
According to a court affidavit filed in the case, Aragona tried to take over the shrimp truck business by getting three thugs to beat up and threaten her business partner Troy Nistche at gunpoint.
Detectives say they are puzzled over Aragona's motive and describe the alleged extortion attempt as a desperate act.
"How can anybody think they can get away with something like that," asked Honolulu police detective James Anderson.
According to court documents, Nistche bought an interest in Giovanni's Aloha Foods, a company in Pearl City, and sole ownership of the Giovanni's Aloha Shrimp Wagon in Kahuku from Aragona and her husband in 1997.
On Sunday, police said Aragona met with Nistche at Giovanni's Aloha Foods at 96-1362 Waihona St. in Pearl City and demanded that Nistche sell her his share in Giovanni's Aloha Foods and the shrimp truck business for the same price she had sold it to him.
When Nistche refused to sign a contract, three men who accompanied Aragona to the meeting punched Nistche in the back of the head, put their hands around his throat, and one man held a gun to his left eye and said "Is this what you want to happen?" according to court documents. Nistche was then struck in the forehead with the gun opening a gash on his head.
The men demanded Nistche sign the contract and made comments about Nistche "disappearing" and "needing a bullet."
When Nistche asked what was going on, Aragona replied, "I want that business," the affidavit said. When Nistche mentioned going to the police, all three men pointed guns at him and warned him not to tell anyone.
Aragona then made offer $500,000 to relinquish all interests in both business and Nistche told police he signed the contract out of fear for his life.
After Nistche signed the contract twice -- Aragona made him resign it after he altered his signature the first time -- Aragona told him "Let me tell you something, when this is over and done with I don't ever want to see you again, I don't ever want you to cross my path. If you cross me, I'm not going to have to do anything. It's these guys," the affidavit said.
The men then told Nistche that if he wanted his family to be okay, then "what happened in this room stays in this room," the document said.
As he walked Nistche out of the office, one man allegedly told him, "I hope you know how serious this is and I hope you don't do anything stupid."
Aragona later went to the shrimp truck and demanded the cash box from one of the employees. When the employee contacted Nistche, he instructed them to hand it over, the document said.
The shrimp truck business is a fixture on the North Shore and its hot sauce for shrimp won a Scovie Award from Fiery Foods magazine.
Aragona turned herself in on Tuesday and has not made a statement to police. Her bail is set at $120,000.
Aragona made her initial court appearance yesterday. She is scheduled to appear back in Honolulu District Court next week for a preliminary hearing.
Police are still searching for the three other suspects.