"A federal grand jury indicted a 66-year-old Hawaii woman after prosecutors accused her of fraudulently making millions of dollars by selling foreign-grown coffee that was labeled and sold as "100% Kona." Patricia "Trish" Johnson was taken into custody Sept. 23. Johnson is accused of orchestrating fraud that spans from 2012 to 2024 and relied on multiple mainland green coffee traders, coffee shipping companies and Hawaii-based roasters."
"Prosecutors said they will be seeking forfeiture of at least $5.26 million, according to court records. An indictment signed by U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Kenneth Sorensen alleges Johnson was the sole owner and operator of a Kona-based coffee business called Kona Coffee Café from the 1990s through at least March 2024, selling bags of coffee from a strip-mall storefront, on Amazon and directly to consumers from her home."
A federal indictment charges a 66-year-old Hawaii woman with selling foreign-grown coffee labeled as 100% Kona and allegedly profiting by millions. The alleged scheme spanned 2012 to 2024 and involved mainland green coffee suppliers, shipping companies, and Hawaii-based roasters. The defendant operated Kona Coffee Café and sold coffee from a storefront, online, and directly to consumers. Charges include 16 counts of wire fraud, five counts of illegal monetary transactions, and three counts of obstruction of justice. The defendant pleaded not guilty, faces a December 2025 trial, and prosecutors seek forfeiture of at least $5.26 million.
Read at Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine
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