Fugitive returns to Arizona to face election fraud charges

PHOENIX — An indicted fugitive recently returned to Arizona to face election fraud charges, officials announced.

According to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Brent Thomas Kusama — also known as Brent Thomas Tadasi Kusama — was returned from Hawaii to Cochise County after he failed to respond to a summons to appear.

On Wednesday, Kusama made his initial appearance in court and his release conditions were set. They included a $10,000 bond and Kusama surrendering his expired passport to his attorney and being ordered not to obtain a new one.

However, Kusama has been permitted to stay with his family in California pending trial.

Details on the election fraud charges Kusama faces

In April 2023, Kusama was indicted by a state grand jury for nine felony and two misdemeanor counts, including fraudulent schemes and practices, presentment of a false instrument for filing and signing of petitions violations.

The grand jury alleged that in order to qualify to run for constable for precinct No. 5, Kusama used nomination petitions containing falsified signatures from July 2021 until April 2022, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

The indictment also accused Kusama of completing the verification on the back of eight petitions on March 28, 2022, despite knowing they contained false or forged information about the electors on the front.

Kusama is expected to be arraigned on Monday by Cochise County Superior Court Judge Joel Larson.

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