PHOENIX—Attorney General Kris Mayes announced that a State Grand Jury has indicted Brent Thomas Kusama, also known as Brent Thomas Tadasi Kusama, on criminal charges of Fraudulent Schemes and Practices, Presentment of a False Instrument for Filing, and Signing of Petitions Violations.
The indictment returned on April 17, 2023, alleges nine felony counts. The grand jury alleged that from July 2021 until April 2022, Kusama used nomination petitions containing falsified signatures to qualify to run for Constable for precinct #5 in Cochise County. The indictment also alleges that on March 28, 2022, Kusama completed verifications on the back of eight petitions knowing that the petitions contained false or forged information about the electors on the front.
Fraudulent Schemes and Practices are a Class 5 felony, and Kusama faces up to 2.5 years in prison and a $150,000.00 fine. In addition to possible fines, the Class 6 Presentment of a False Instrument charges carries potential sentences of up to two years in prison each.
This investigation was conducted by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office Special Investigations Section, Election Integrity Unit, Special Agent William Knuth. Assistant Attorney General Todd Lawson is prosecuting this case.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Defendant is scheduled to be arraigned in Cochise County Superior Court on 9:00am on July 7, 2023.