Former Hawaii union boss is sentenced to federal prison
The former business manager of a Hawaii labor union Brian Ahakuelo — who was convicted of rigging a vote to raise dues and taking members’ money to pay for his family’s extravagant lifestyle — was sentenced Thursday morning to more than 11 years in federal prison.
Attorney Caroline M. Elliot said the 62-year-old former business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260 will appeal the sentence.
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“Labor leaders have a fiduciary duty to their members, and in this case, the jury returned its verdict after hearing extensive testimony and reviewing voluminous documentary evidence of Brian and Marilyn Ahakuelo’s criminal violation of that duty,” said U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors in a statement. “Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure criminal consequences in a court of law when this type of misconduct occurs.”
Leroy Chincio, current business manager of Local 1260, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in an interview that the union moved on and “refocused ” from the Ahakuelo crimes the moment he was removed from office. The union does business transparently, with all members involved and keenly aware of their role in every decision the union makes, he said.
“We’re glad justice is served, finally. It’s been seven years. We’ve moved on as a union. This is just one example of a bad person doing bad things. It does not reflect on the union members who stood strong,” he said. “We refocused on the whole purpose of a union. That’s to give the members a voice and a bigger say in their workplace and in the community.”
Elliot asked Senior U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor to sentence her client, an Army veteran whose father once led the same union, to the 140 months recommended by the U.S. Probation Office. The U.S. Department of Justice had asked Gillmor to sentence Ahakuelo to 14 years in federal prison.
Elliot told the Star-Advertiser after the sentencing that Attorneys for Freedom is proud to represent Ahakuelo, and while it didn’t represent him at trial, it will represent him on appeal and “will be arguing all appellate issues that are in his best interest.”
“Brian has maintained his innocence since this began four years ago. That’s why he chose to go to trial last October, that’s why we will be entering notice of appeal and that’s why we will continue fighting to clear his name,” said Elliot.
After serving his time, Ahakuelo, 62, will be on supervised release for three years. Ahakuelo asked Gillmor to recommend that he serve his time at either the Federal Prison Camp, Pensacola in Florida or the Federal Prison Camp, Montgomery in Alabama.
Ahakuelo, who is in custody at the Federal Detention Center, Honolulu, asked Gillmor whether he could be released and self-report to prison. Gillmor denied the request.
He will pay restitution in the amount recommended by the U.S. Probation Office, $209,391.72; a forfeiture judgment was previously entered March 15 in the amount of $60,212.49.
Brian Ahakuelo and Marilyn Ahakuelo were both convicted Nov. 19 of one count of conspiracy and 42 counts of wire fraud. The couple was also convicted of embezzlement of a labor union asset, six counts for Brian Ahakuelo and three counts for Marilyn Ahakuelo. Brian Ahakuelo alone was convicted of 19 counts of money laundering.
Marilyn Ahakuelo was sentenced March 28 to 70 months in federal prison.
