Jury: Mirikitani guilty

Advertiser Staff

City Councilman Andy Mirkitani followed by his girlfriend, Sharron Bynum, walk out of the federal courthouse this afternoon after a jury found them guilty in their federal corruption case. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Jurors deliberated for about three days before arriving at their verdict

Mirikitani, a 45-year-old attorney, was convicted of six counts, including charges of theft, bribery, extortion, wire fraud and witness tampering.

His girlfriend, Sharron Bynum, was also convicted on two counts of theft and extortion for her part in the federal case.

State law prohibits someone sentenced for a felony from holding public office. But Mirikitani could remain in office until Dec. 4, when sentencing is scheduled for him in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor.

Mirikitani faces imprisonment for up to 65 years and maximum fines of $1.5 million.

His conviction sets up a possible special election in his Council District V, which includes the communities of Manoa, Mo'ili'ili, McCully, Tantalus, Makiki, Pawa'a, Ala Moana and Kewalo.

Mirkitani sighed heavily after Gillmor read the verdict finding him guilty on all counts.

He would not say if he plans to resign from the Council, deferring questions about the case and his future to his lawyer, John Edmunds.

“We are exploring the idea of an appeal right now,” Edmunds said, although he did not say on what grounds.

Bynum’s lawyer, assistant federal public defender William Domingo, said Bynum was “surprised and saddened” by the verdict.

Two former Mirikitani aides, Cindy McMillan and Jonn Serikawa, testified that Mirikitani gave them nearly $26,600 in bonuses in exchange for the two giving him back $6,600, about half the bonus after taxes. Mirikitani denied receiving any cash from Serikawa and said that he never linked McMillan's bonus to $4,250 worth of campaign contributions she and her husband gave to him.

Federal prosecutors have described Mirikitani as the highest-ranking elected official in Hawai‘i to be indicted on federal felony charges while in office.