Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Friday, April 26, 2024 73° Today's Paper


Hawaii NewsTop News

Maui bookkeeper to plead guilty to stealing $1.3 million from employer

The former bookkeeper of a plant nursery on Maui is expected to admit to embezzling more than $1.3 million to pay off her credit cards and mortgage.

Federal prosecutors filed papers in U.S. District Court Friday charging Thelma Pascua-Suyat with wire fraud. The court has yet to schedule a date for Pascua-Suyat’s guilty plea.

According to the papers, Pascua-Suyat stole $1,313,631 from Ki-Hana Nursery in Kihei from December 2008 to January 2016. She stole $1,120,328 to make 291 payments on another person’s American Express Card, of which Pascua-Suyat was an authorized user, $127,549 to make 112 payments on her and the same individual’s Capital One credit cards and $65,753 to make 33 mortgage payments on her personal residence.

The other person for whom Pascua-Suyat was making credit card payments is not charged with any crimes and is identified in the charging document as “S.S.”

Single credit card payments were as high as $11,572 and the mortgage payments were $2,028.

The government says Pascua-Suyat worked for Ki-Hana from 2004 until her termination on or about January 2016.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.