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The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawaii prosecutor seeks life in prison for accused identity thief

By Jim Dooley
Advertiser Staff Writer

The prosecutor's office wants to lock away for life a Kailua woman indicted yesterday on 122 criminal counts including identity theft, forgery and money laundering.

Susan E. Shaw allegedly stole some $160,000 from at least 11 victims from January 2008 through last month, and an investigation of her activities is continuing, deputy prosecuting attorney Christopher Van Marter said.

Shaw was arrested by Honolulu police detectives Sunday at the airport when she returned from an overseas trip. She is being held on $1 million bail.

Van Marter wouldn't say how Shaw obtained the personal information of her victims, and the victims said they did not know. Only one of the victims, a neighbor, knew Shaw personally.

Once Shaw got the information, including Social Security numbers, she would apply for credit cards in the names of her victims and arrange "holds" on mail deliveries as well as changes of mailing addresses, Van Marter said.

Nine of Shaw's alleged victims testified before the grand jury yesterday morning and two, Julian Nakanishi and Kanani Bona, spoke with reporters about what Shaw allegedly did to them.

"I was one of the first victims," said Bona, adding that she began noticing problems with her personal finances and mail delivery a year and half ago.

Bona alleged that Shaw "changed my (mailing) address" for credit card bills. "I wasn't getting a lot of my mail."

"I'm still fighting to straighten out my credit. It's a huge humbug for me," said Bona, who estimated that Shaw charged some $20,000 in purchases to credit cards taken out in Bona's name.

Nakanishi told a similar story, saying that when he first noticed problems he had difficulty figuring out what was wrong with his personal finances.

"You don't know what to do," he said."

Shaw allegedly charged some $20,000 to $30,000 in his name, he said.

Straightening out the mess has been a headache "that I wouldn't wish on anyone," he said.

Van Marter said Shaw regularly traveled to the Mainland and outside the country and his office considers her a flight risk if she is allowed to post bail.

Shaw's husband, who works for a mortgage company and has been "cooperative" with police, said his wife travels out of state "every 10 days," according to Van Marter.

Two of her alleged victims are on the Mainland, the prosecutor said.

Shaw does not work but falsely claimed to some of her victims that she is an "entertainment attorney," the prosecutor said.

"We will be seeking a life term in prison based on the sheer magnitude (of the scheme) and the harm she has caused her victims," Van Marter said.

Shaw was convicted on a felony theft charge in 1994, according to Van Marter.

Reach Jim Dooley at jdooley@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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