Posted on: Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Eye doctor's ex-aide going to jail

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer

A 43-year-old Waipahu woman yesterday was sentenced to a year in jail and ordered to pay nearly $555,000 to an eye doctor for the money that she stole as his office manager.

Sandra R. Nagamine wept and apologized to her former employer, Dr. Gary Edwards, but Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall said Nagamine committed a "flagrant abuse of trust" and imposed the jail term to hold her accountable for her crimes.

Crandall ordered Nagamine to pay $554,934 in restitution and perform 200 hours of community service. She also placed her on five years' probation.

Nagamine pleaded guilty earlier this year to theft, forgery, computer fraud and money laundering. In exchange, city prosecutors dropped related counts.

Nagamine earned Edwards' trust as the office manager, but stole over the years from his Honolulu Eye Clinic in various ways, including keeping cash instead of depositing the money in the accounts, writing checks to herself and paying herself double and triple her salary, city Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee told the judge.

She spent the money on trips to Las Vegas, hotels, California amusement parks and other expenses, he said.

"It was a breach of trust based on greed," Lee said in asking for a maximum 10-year prison term.

Nagamine's lawyer, Sam King Jr., portrayed his client as a hard-working, loyal employee who "just got burned out" and ended up showing "incredibly bad judgment." He said Nagamine wants to pay back as much as she can and asked that she be placed on probation.

"I'm really, really sorry," Nagamine said, addressing Edwards in a courtroom packed with her relatives and friends. "Tears don't come easily for me, but it's in my heart."

Edwards, who had been struggling financially even though he had a growing practice and was about to sell it before the theft was uncovered, said Nagamine almost destroyed his practice.

Nagamine enjoyed his confidence and trust, but he is still paying off the debt left by her "treachery and betrayal," he said.

After the hearing, Edwards said Nagamine's apology was the first time that he heard her say she was sorry and acknowledge her wrongdoing, although he said he thought most of the sorrow was for herself.

"I'm not a vengeful person," he said. "I'd rather that it never happened. I think the point is proven with a year in jail."

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.