Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Michigan man extradited to Hawaii in coffee theft case
POSTED: 08:56 a.m. HST, Aug 30, 2012
LAST UPDATED: 09:36 a.m. HST, Aug 30, 2012
A southeastern Michigan man is back on the Big Island to face charges of embezzling money from a Kona coffee grower.
Forty-one-year-old John “Jason” Walaskay of Whitmore lake, Mich., was arrested earlier this month at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club in suburban Detroit and has been extradited back to Hawaii.
He’s been indicted on theft and other counts.
Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports that according to the indictment, Walaskay stole money from Kona’s Best Natural Coffee while employed as comptroller. He could face up to 75 years in prison.
Bookkeeper Cathy Kleger says the company lost nearly $200,000.
Walaskay pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Trial has been set for Oct. 3.
