A 35-year-old former clerk for the Federal Bureau of Investigation got information from an office computer to warn her husband to stay away from drug dealers, a federal prosecutor disclosed yesterday.

But because the information caused her husband and another man to be "more cautious" in their drug dealing, Charmaine Moniz committed a federal felony by tapping in to the FBI database without authorization, Assistant U.S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni said.

Moniz pleaded guilty to the charge yesterday, admitting she got that information to warn her husband.

She now faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000 at sentencing, scheduled for April 9.

FBI suspicions about Moniz led to a massive two-year federal investigation that resulted in federal charges against more than 35 people, including Moniz's husband, Eric, five Honolulu police officers, the head of Aloha Stadium security and a Honolulu Liquor Commission inspector.

Most are awaiting trial, but Herbert Naone Jr., who retired Sept. 1 as head of the stadium security, pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to extort two nightclubs in 2004 and 2005. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 5.

Charmaine Moniz, who has three children with her husband, began working as a support services clerk with the FBI Honolulu office in 1999 and got promoted to an accountant technician for disbursements.

She admitted that in 2003, she exceeded her authorized access and reviewed FBI documents related to drug activities of Damien Kalei Hina and two others who were later charged in drug offenses as a result of the investigation. Her husband, Eric, was also charged with drug offenses.

Charmaine Moniz admitted she knew her husband was involved in Hina's drug dealings, but she said she did not want her husband to be arrested and she warned her husband about the others.

Nakakuni said Charmaine Moniz "clearly loved" her husband, but her warnings made Eric Moniz and Hina "more cautious."

Nakakuni, Charmaine Moniz and her lawyer, David Gierlach, all declined to comment after the hearing.

The FBI investigation, the most wide-ranging in years here, included taps on at least 10 phones.

According to federal affidavits filed in the case, the investigation started in March 2004 when Charmaine Moniz was suspected of providing the confidential information to her husband and other suspected dealers.

A confidential source told authorities that the Moniz home in Waialua was used by Hina as a "stash house" for Hina's drugs, the documents said.

Hina's phone was tapped in June 2004, and evidence gathered in that case led to other wiretaps as the investigation widened, according to the affidavits.

The probe resulted in a series of indictments earlier this year involving alleged drug activities, a Waialua cockfight and gambling operation, firearm charges and extortion.

Three police officers were charged with trying to protect the operation, another was charged with hiding cockfight gaffs and a fifth charged with possession of an unregistered machine gun.

James Rodenhurst, a supervisory Honolulu Liquor Commission inspector, was charged with conspiring with Naone to extort the nightclub owner.

Their trials are scheduled for next year.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.