Case of ID theft spurs new charges
A former polo partner and associate of a Kauai resident found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in the Philippines was indicted on new charges of stealing the dead man's identity, credit card fraud and theft.
Henry Ponce Jacinto Calucag Jr., also known as Hank Jacinto, is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. Most of the new charges stem from Calucag allegedly using John Elwin's credit card numbers after Elwin was dead.
An Oahu grand jury indicted Calucag on Thursday for second-degree identity theft, use of a computer in the commission of a crime, second-degree theft and three counts of fraudulent use of a credit card. According to the indictment, Calucag allegedly used Elwin's identity after Elwin's death.
Elwin's body was found May 14 outside Manila with gunshot wounds to the head and his back, Philippine police said. But there was no identification on the body, and Elwin was not identified until October, when dental records were sent to the Philippines from Canada.
Calucag allegedly used Elwin's credit card numbers to obtain money, goods and services in May and June, according to Thursday's indictment.
He had already been indicted Sept. 7 on charges of first-degree identity theft, first-degree theft and second-degree forgery for allegedly transferring ownership of Elwin's car to himself, using Elwin's credit card to order polo mallets and transferring title of a Kauai property.
Elwin's brother reported him missing June 16 after Elwin and Calucag went to the Philippines on a trip to either buy or furnish a condominium there.
Calucag also has a federal conviction for bank fraud in a check-kiting scheme involving several banks in 1992.
Police and the Department of the Attorney General have also looked into the disappearances of two other men, both of whom have gone to the Philippines with Calucag.
Arthur Young was reported missing in November 1990. Douglas Ho was reported missing in January 2005 and had disappeared the previous summer.
