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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Saturday, June 25, 2005

Man once missing charged in fraud

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer

A 31-year-old man who went missing after his car was found down a Makapu'u cliff was charged yesterday with theft, credit card fraud, money laundering and forging more than $40,000 worth of checks.

Kenneth J. Peters Jr., a Halawa businessman, was intercepted by customs officers at Honolulu International Airport on his way back from Bangkok, Thailand, three days after his 2005 silver Mercedes-Benz was found March 22. He was last seen leaving his Halawa business the evening before his car was discovered.

Peters was the subject of an extensive search.

After customs officials recognized him, Peters went willingly to police headquarters. He was interviewed and left with his parents.

Yesterday, city prosecutors filed a complaint charging Peters with 11 counts of forging checks in 2003 from the accounts of Flight School Hawai'i Inc. and AirFrame & PowerPlant Service Inc. Eight checks totalling more than $31,000 were from Flight School where Peters had provided accounting work and three checks totalling more than $9,000 were from AirFrame.

Peters was also charged with first-degree theft for allegedly stealing from the two companies.

In addition, Peters was charged with fraudulently using a credit card in 2003.

Peters could not be reached for comment yesterday.