US federal prosecutors have expanded their case against Patricia “Trish” Johnson, owner of Kona Coffee Café in Hawaii, who is accused of selling foreign-grown coffee for years as “100% Kona”, one of the most expensive and most protected origin coffees in the US. The superseding indictment, filed in federal court in Honolulu, contains 28 counts, including wire fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice, plus four new counts over allegedly false tax returns for 2019-2022.
According to the prosecution, between 2012 and April 2024 Johnson bought roughly 88 tonnes of foreign green coffee from an Oakland-area wholesaler for about $494,000 and sold it as Kona in her café, online and on Amazon. The government is seeking forfeiture of at least $5.26 million.
Johnson pleaded not guilty on 7 October, and her attorney maintains she is innocent. The trial is scheduled for 1 February 2027 but may be postponed.
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Source: Daily Coffee News