TAX NEWS - May 2009

Hawaii Tax - Correction: Rodney Villanueva Tax Complaint

On April 28, 2009, a Department of Taxation news release regarding a criminal tax complaint against Rodney D. Villanueva incorrectly stated that Villanueva, through his attorney, had agreed to plead guilty to the charges specified in the complaint. Villanueva never agreed to plead guilty to the alleged tax offenses and there is no plea agreement at this time between the State of Hawai'i and Villanueva.

Villanueva's only agreement with the State of Hawai'i was to be charged via complaint instead of a grand jury indictment. Furthermore, Villanueva's attorney, David Hayakawa, never agreed to plead his client guilty to the offenses alleged in the criminal tax complaint.

Villanueva is presumed innocent of the alleged offenses until such time that the State of Hawai'i proves each and every element of the alleged offenses beyond a reasonable doubt.

For more information contact:

Stephen Hironaka
Criminal Tax Investigator

Phone (808) 587-1795
Stephen.T.Hironaka@hawaii.gov