Attorney General Chris Mays announced Friday that a grand jury has indicted a Cochise County man for forging a signature to qualify as a constable for the county’s 5th Precinct.
Following an investigation by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Brent Thomas Tadashi Kusama on April 17 submitted a forged signature to be eligible to run for constable between July 2021 and April 2022. He was indicted on nine felony counts for allegedly filing a nomination petition, including
According to the indictment, on March 28, 2022, Kusama completed a review of the reverse sides of eight petitions, knowing that they contained false or falsified information about electors.
Kusama faces one count of felony fraud planning and conduct, which carries a maximum sentence of two and a half years in prison and a $150,000 fine. He also faces eight counts of felony felony submission of petition violations and presentation of false documents for signature. Up to two years in prison can be imposed for each false declaration.
He also faces two charges of violating the petition signature, a misdemeanor that carries a fine of up to $2,500 and six months in prison.
Cusama’s arraignment is scheduled for July 7 at 9:00 a.m. in Cochise County Superior Court. Assistant Attorney General Todd Lawson is prosecuting the case.
