Whatever
Happened To...
An update on past news
Diamond Head couple
pleaded guilty to
wedding chapel scamQuestion: What ever happened to the Diamond Head couple who was arrested in 1998 for allegedly swindling a Japanese wedding chapel investor out of $1.2 million?
Answer: Norikazu and Jena Nakamichi were indicted by an Oahu grand jury in May 1999 on charges of theft, securities fraud, forgery, money laundering and racketeering stemming from the alleged $1.36 million scam.
The couple operated a nail and wedding salon in Kapahulu.
One victim lost $1.2 million to the Nakamichis, according to the indictment. Police said the couple persuaded the 65-year-old man from Nagoya, Japan, to purchase an Aina Haina wedding chapel but never delivered on the deal, using the money instead to pay the rent on their posh Diamond Head home and fund their wedding business.
According to court records, Jena Nakamichi paid her two adult sons and their wives to operate the nail and wedding salon; their salaries were thousands of dollars higher than the amount of money the salon was taking in each month.
Another victim lost $120,000; the third victim lost $20,000 but also sued the couple in federal court. He was awarded a $564,000 judgment last month.
The couple pleaded guilty in August 2001; Norikazu Nakamichi to theft and Jena Nakamichi to theft, securities fraud and money laundering. Norikazu Nakamichi was fined $20,000 and sentenced to five years probation. Jena Nakamichi was also fined $20,000, sentenced to four months in prison, five months probation and ordered to pay $865,000 in restitution at the rate of at least $10 per month.
In May a state judge issued a $10,000 bench warrant for Norikazu Nakamichi's arrest for allegedly failing to report to his probation officer and pay his fine. He was ordered to pay off the fine at a rate of at least $10 per month.
During the criminal proceedings, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service told the court that if Norikazu Nakamichi, a Japanese national, was found guilty of the crimes he was accused, it would seek to deport him. Jena Nakamichi is a U.S. citizen.
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