The operators of a Leeward Coast cockfighting and gambling operation have entered guilty pleas to multiple federal
criminal charges and face prison terms and loss of their Waianae home.
Lloyd Marshall, 67, and his wife, Nitta Mitsuko Marshall, 65, staged cockfight derbies at their Puuhulu Road home from 2009 to mid-July 2011. Police observed from 100 to 600 people attending the events, according to prosecutors.
The Marshalls and three other persons, Brian Keith Castro, Jerry Perreira Jr. and Patrick Manuel Roque, were indicted in March of this year and all have now entered guilty pleas in the case.
In a July 2011 raid, authorities seized more than $150,000 from the Marshalls’ house and another $20,000 from a car parked on the property, according to court records.
Today they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct illegal gambling and to 13 counts of illegally structuring $132,000 in bank deposits.
Federal law requires filing of reports for cash transactions involving $10,000 or more. It is illegal to “structure” transactions into lesser amounts to avoid the filing requirement.
They agreed to forfeit their house as well as the cash seized in last year’s raid to the federal government.
The Marshalls will be sentenced in January by Chief U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway and face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
According to the indictment, defendant Castro assisted in the “organization and promotion” of the gambling events and Perreira and Roque acted as referees and matchmakers.