Employee wanted in credit card spree
A Honolulu man spent nearly a quarter-million dollars during an 11-day shopping spree, buying a customized Hummer H2 worth $164,000 and racking up bills at strip bars, courtesy of his employer's American Express credit card, according to police and a lawsuit filed on Aug. 23.
Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc. filed a lawsuit against John L. Kahana IV, a field service representative, seeking repayment, damages plus any property he purchased with the credit card.
Kahana could not be reached for comment, and his whereabouts are unknown. A police report also has been filed, and the case is being investigated as a fraudulent use of a credit card, a police spokeswoman confirmed.
According to the civil complaint, Kahana charged $245,672.11 worth of items and services from Aug. 8 through 19 -- expenses that he was not authorized to make. Besides the high-ticket Hummer from Pflueger GM/Cadillac, he used the card for nightclubs, strip clubs, restaurants, retail stores, car insurance, motorcycles and a hotel, the complaint said.
His employer was able to reach him Aug. 19 and requested that he pay the outstanding balance owed on the company credit card. In that phone call, Kahana admitted that he did not obtain permission from his manager to make the purchases, the complaint said.
Since then, Honeywell has been unable to reach Kahana, who has not paid any amounts due on the credit card.
Kahana is believed to have sold the Hummer or transferred it to someone else, possibly in exchange for some construction equipment, the complaint said.
Kahana apparently obtained the credit card from his employer for business use only. Honeywell allows certain employees to possess corporate credit cards to charge business expenses. But employees must agree not to use the card for personal expenses, the complaint said.