#bribery
Council committee recommends adding five years to pursue alleged ethics violations
The Maui County Council’s Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee voted 9-0 Tuesday to recommend passage of a bill extending the Board of Ethics’ jurisdiction to pursue ethics violations from one to six years, and to explicitly apply the change retroactively.
Update: Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, four others indicted on bribery, corruption charges; Governor calls for Luke’s resignation
An Oʻahu grand jury indicted Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others on Friday in a sweeping public corruption case tied to the state’s COVID-19 community testing program. Hours later, Gov. Josh Green called for her formal resignation. “The lieutenant governor needs to consider formally resigning to address this matter and so that the state […]
Two defense contractors arrested for bribery and major fraud conspiracy scheme involving Hawaiʻi-Pacific Innovation Campus
The Justice Department announced criminal charges against Leonard Pick, 62, of Palm Beach Shores, Florida, and Brian Kent, 59, of Tampa, Florida, for allegedly orchestrating a bribery and major fraud conspiracy that corrupted the competitive procurement process for a Department of War technology innovation lab in the Pacific.
Businessman, 2 attorneys sentenced in multimillion-dollar scheme to bribe Hawai‘i County public official
According to court documents, the defendants conspired to pay bribes and kickbacks to a county housing employee in exchange for his agreement to use his official position to ensure that the county approved three affordable housing agreements benefitting the defendants’ development companies.
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke takes leave of absence without pay amid bribery investigation
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke is taking a leave of absence without pay, for an indefinite period, according to a statement released today. This comes the day after her attorney, David M. Louie and the Friends of Sylvia Luke confirmed that a target letter was received from the Special Investigations and Prosecution Division (SIPD) of the Department of the Attorney General stating that Luke is the target of a bribery investigation.
Former Maui official sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for fraud, accepting bribes
A former Maui official was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to honest services wire fraud involving the acceptance of multiple bribes totaling up to $2 million.
Another former Maui County official charged with taking bribes
Another former Maui County official with the Maui County Department of Environmental Management, Wilfred Tamayo Savella, 71, is the latest individual to be charged with taking bribes in a scheme tied to Honolulu businessman Milton Choy.
Six applicants considered for House District 39 seat vacated by Ty Cullen
The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi has received six completed applications to fill the vacant House District 39 seat, previously held by Ty Cullen.