Estate fraud suspect pleads not guilty to new charges

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A man charged with several crimes related to estate fraud was charged with additional crimes on Monday.

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The Hawaii Attorney General’s Office filed additional felony charges against Former Honolulu Attorney Robert Chapman, accusing him of using forging documents to unlawfully receive $40,000 from the estate of a deceased person.

Chapman is charged with first-degree theft and second-degree forgery for his alleged actions.

Chapman was arraigned Monday morning in circuit court, where he pleaded not guilty.

The trial for these more recent charges is set for Aug. 17.

Both cases are being prosecuted by the lawyers with the state AG’s Criminal Justice Division.

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Meanwhile, Chapman has a pending 2025 criminal case as well, where he has been indicted on 22 felony counts, including first-degree identity theft, forgery, theft, and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information.

In that case, prosecutors allege that Chapman engaged in a years-long scheme to deprive three charitable beneficiaries of around $250,000 each by using a forged will.

“These charges reflect our continued commitment to protecting estates, beneficiaries, and charitable organizations from fraud and financial exploitation,” said Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez. “When individuals attempt to use forged documents to divert assets from their rightful recipients, we will pursue accountability under the law.”

The trial for Chapman’s 22 charges is scheduled for October 26.

The Attorney General’s Office worked with the Department of Law Enforcement to conduct the investigation and bring charges.

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If convicted, Chapman could face decades in prison.