VEGAS IMPERSONATOR GOES ON TRIAL TODAY

The trial of Las Vegas celebrity impersonator Trina Johnson-Finn began today in Suriname, where she has been jailed for almost three months.

Johnson-Finn, a former backup singer for MC Hammer and Barbra Streisand, was arrested March 1 after being billed as Toni Braxton at a concert in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname.

Her husband, Las Vegas realtor Raymond Finn, flew to Miami over the weekend with the intention of attending the trial, but turned back when advised he couldn't get any "guarantees or assurances of safety."

He was also initially jailed for two weeks for being a co-conspirator in the alleged hoax. Finn says he and his wife were duped by the South American promoter who flew her to Paramaribo under the guise that she would be performing at a birthday party and should not be billed as a celebrity.

The promoter, Angel Ventura, and his girlfriend have since been arrested and also face trial in Paramaribo.

Finn, in an e-mail Tuesday, Ventura has acknowledged Johnson-FInn's innocence "so we're in a very strong position."

Finn added that a U.S. Embassy representative will be at the trial.

-- NORM CLARKE, Vegas Confidential