Posted at 9:25 a.m., Thursday, April 12, 2001

Ex-Cancer Society official sentenced

Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former Hawai'i man and American Cancer Society executive was sentenced today to 13 1/2 years in prison for stealing nearly $8 million from the charity's Ohio chapter.

"I had six years of exemplary service with the American Cancer Society, all of which has been thrown away by the bad decisions I have made," Daniel Wiant said before being sentenced in U.S. District Court.

Wiant, 36, pleaded guilty in August to bank fraud, money laundering, mail fraud and illegal use of a credit card in thefts that began in 1997.

Court records show he was sentenced to two prison terms for credit card fraud in Hawai'i, in 1987 on the Big Island and a year later on O'ahu. He also admitted taking $20,000 from the Maui Foodbank, where he was executive director in 1992, but was not charged after promising to pay it back.

Wiant's attorney, Victor Merullo, had asked for a lesser sentence, saying Wiant cooperated with investigators and took responsibility.

Sargus rejected that claim, saying Wiant abused trust at the Cancer Society, where he was responsible for all of the charity's banking transactions.

Wiant must serve 11 1/2 years before he would be eligible for parole. He also must pay about $593,000 to the American Cancer Society and its insurer.