A nightclub owner who was the target of an extortion scheme by the head of Aloha Stadium security and by a Ho-nolulu liquor inspector was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison yesterday in a drug case.

Corey Kaowili Jr. faced a prison term of at least 10 years under federal advisory guidelines for possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, but U.S. District Judge David Ezra granted a request by federal prosecutors for a lesser sentence of 46 months in prison because he cooperated with authorities.

The judge said Kaowili provided "substantial assistance" to the government.

The assistance was not described during the sentencing hearing. Later, Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Cushman and Kaowili's lawyer, David Klein, would not comment.

Kaowili had been described by federal authorities as the owner of the Volcanoes and Sin City nightclubs.

Herbert Naone Jr., former Aloha Stadium security chief, and James Rodenhurst, a former liquor commission inspector, have pleaded guilty to the charges of extorting the nightclubs in 2004 and 2005 when both held their government jobs. The two are awaiting sentencing.

Naone admitted he received cash from the two nightclubs in exchange for providing information about Honolulu Liquor Commission inspections and allowing them to operate in violation of liquor laws. Rodenhurst admitted he received at least $2,000 from Naone.

As part of a plea agreement, federal prosecutors dropped two other drug charges against Kaowili.

"Sorry to the community and my family and the court," Kao-wili told Ezra.

Naone and Rodenhurst were charged as a result of a massive, two-year FBI wiretap probe. The investigation covered a cockfight gambling operation in Waialua, drug transactions and other illegal activities. More than 35 individuals, including five former police officers, were charged in a series of indictments in April last year.

Kaowili was among defendants charged with drug offenses.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.