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REPORT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE– Attorney General David M. Louie announced today that Wesley Choi, a former employee of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, was sentenced yesterday by Judge Richard K. Perkins in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit to two ten-year terms of imprisonment and two five-year terms of imprisonment for his involvement in a scheme to defraud the State of Hawaii. All terms of imprisonment will be served concurrently.
The court imposed the sentences of imprisonment pursuant to a plea agreement between Choi and the State of Hawaii.
Choi was charged with Theft in the First Degree, Use of a Computer in the Commission of a Separate Crime, and two counts of Forgery in the Second Degree, as part of the four-count complaint that was filed on February 13, 2012. Choi submitted false job procurement bids on nonexistent state boating facility repair jobs that were awarded to his corporation, Kanape, Inc. The total loss to the State was $124,966.43. If, pursuant to the plea agreement, Choi had paid this amount by the time of yesterday’s hearing, he would have received 5 years probation and 18 months imprisonment as a condition of probation.