Tara K. McGrath, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California
Former Honolulu city officials Donna Leong and Max Sword have pleaded guilty in federal court, admitting to conspiring to pay former Police Chief Louis Kealoha $250,000 from city funds without the required approval of the Honolulu City Council. This payment occurred while Kealoha was under federal investigation for corruption.
Roy Amemiya, a former Honolulu City Manager, has entered a deferred prosecution agreement related to the same conspiracy. The defendants were sentenced to time served and ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution to the city.
The resolution of these cases concludes a decade-long series of public corruption prosecutions in Honolulu. These began with investigations into Chief Kealoha and former prosecutor Katherine Kealoha.
Court documents reveal that Leong, Sword, and Amemiya conspired as city officials to settle a retirement agreement for Kealoha during his federal investigation. They paid him $250,000 without obtaining City Council approval, violating laws and depriving citizens of due process rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.
U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi sentenced Leong and Sword to time served and one year of supervised release. She criticized their actions as "truly misguided" and noted their "complete disregard for the separation of powers."
Amemiya's deferred prosecution agreement requires compliance with specific conditions over two years, including 200 hours of community service and restrictions on holding public office. If he complies fully, charges against him will be dismissed.
All three defendants agreed to pay $250,000 in restitution—the amount paid unlawfully to Kealoha.
This case marks the end of a series of public corruption prosecutions conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California after Hawaii's district recusal. Over a dozen individuals have been charged or convicted during this period.
Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Haden stated: “After a decade-long battle against public corruption in Hawaii, we have successfully brought numerous cases to a close... Together, we have demonstrated that no one is above the law.”
FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter added: “I am proud of the agents and prosecutors who devoted years to these investigations—their tireless efforts reflect our continued commitment to root out corruption in our communities.”
Special Attorneys Michael G. Wheat, Joseph J.M. Orabona, Janaki G. Chopra, Colin M. McDonald, and Andrew Y. Chiang led these cases.
