Suzuki pleads
not guilty to
conspiracyThe former legislator is also
charged with filing false tax returns
Former state Rep. Nathan Suzuki pleaded not guilty yesterday to federal charges he conspired with a Honolulu businessman who was later convicted of tax evasion charges in 2001.
The conspiracy charge is in addition to charges brought in a June 2002 federal indictment that accused the legislator of filing false income tax returns and failing to disclose his interest in overseas accounts linked to businessman Michael Boulware.
Suzuki was scheduled for trial this month on the earlier charges when a federal grand jury handed down the superseding indictment Oct. 30. Trial for Suzuki on all the charges has been set for Jan. 20.
Outside the courtroom, Suzuki's attorney, Michael Green, said their defense remains the same.
"I don't think Nathan did anything wrong," Green said.
But he criticized federal prosecutors for bringing the latest charge, saying it makes their defense more difficult to prepare.
According to the indictment, Suzuki allegedly knew in 1994 that Boulware was being investigated by the federal government but helped Boulware transfer money overseas through Suzuki's Hong Kong-based company, Harvest International King Coffee Ltd.
Boulware owned Hawaiian Isles Enterprises, a successful vending machine and coffee distribution company, at the time. Suzuki was a former comptroller for Boulware's company and prepared his personal income tax returns from 1989 to 1994, according to testimony at Boulware's federal trial.
Boulware was convicted in November 2001 for lying on his tax returns and failing to report $10 million in personal income that he funneled from his own company for personal use. He was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison but is free while appealing his conviction.
Suzuki served in the House for 10 years before he announced he was not seeking re-election. A certified public accountant, Suzuki continues to do accounting and tax preparation work, Green said.
