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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 5:08 p.m., Friday, October 27, 2006

Former airport officials convicted in scam

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two former state airport officials and two contractors were found guilty this afternoon of a scam involving inflated bids and kickbacks for repair jobs at the Honolulu International Airport from 1998 through mid-2002.

Former airport officials Dennis Hirokawa and Richard Okada and private contractors Michael Furukawa and Wesley Uemura were found guilty of all the felony charges against them.

The lengthy trial in U. S. District Judge David Ezra's courtroom opened Sept. 26, but the federal jury needed only about seven hours of deliberations yesterday and today to reach the verdicts.

Federal prosecutors estimated that the scam cost taxpayers more than $2.5 million.

The four men showed no emotion as the court clerk announced the guilty verdicts.

Ezra scheduled sentencing for Jan. 15.

The judge permitted the four to remain free on bond pending sentencing, when each faces possible prison terms for their convictions.

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

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.