Woman pleads not guilty in shrimp truck extortion

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

A woman accused of using armed thugs to force a business partner to sign over ownership of a Kahuku shrimp sales truck and divest his interest in a Pearl City food sauce business pleaded not guilty yesterday in Circuit Court to extortion, robbery, kidnapping and theft charges.

Circuit Judge Richard Perkins set a Nov. 13 trial date for Connie Aragona, 46, who is being held at the O'ahu Community Correctional Center, unable to post $120,000 bail.

Aragona's business partner, Troy Nitsche, testified at an Aug. 27 preliminary hearing that Aragona lured him to her Pearl City office Aug. 19 on the pretense of discussing business.

Nitsche said that during a discussion with Aragona, three armed men appeared, one of them beat him and that threats were made implying that if he did not sell the shrimp truck operation back to Aragona, he would be killed.

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030