Regina L. Foster, a leader of a gang of copper thieves that plagued O'ahu highways for two years, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Circuit Judge Karen Ahn imposed the sentence yesterday after Foster pleaded guilty earlier to felony offenses including conspiracy, racketeering and money laundering.

Foster is the wife of another leader of the group, James B. "Freeway Jimmy" Taylor, who pleaded guilty to the same offenses in April and is to be sentenced by Ahn next month.

Of 10 defendants originally charged in the case, nine have entered guilty pleas.

Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Van Marter said the gang struck 12 sites on the H-1 and H-2 freeways, some more than once, stripping out 72,000 pounds of copper wire worth $563,000.

The thefts, which darkened O'ahu roadways for years, declined sharply after Taylor was arrested and charged a year ago, according to the prosecutor.

Members of the group sold the wiring to metal recycling companies, visiting various establishments a total of 478 times.

Foster's role in the group was to collect money from recyclers and distribute the proceeds among members of the group, Van Marter said.

State officials estimated the cost of damage repair to be $3 million.