Maui Director Gets 10 Years for $2M Bribery Scheme

HONOLULU, HI – Stewart Olani Stant, 55, of Maui, will spend the next decade in federal prison after being sentenced today for a brazen scheme to defraud the citizens of Maui County. Chief United States District Judge Derrick K. Watson handed down the 10-year sentence, along with a $1.9 million money judgment forfeiture, for honest services wire fraud. Stant, formerly the Director of Maui County’s Department of Environmental Management (DEM), systematically accepted bribes to rig the system.

The evidence presented in court painted a clear picture of calculated corruption. Between October 2012 and December 2018, Stant lined his pockets with up to $2,000,000 in cash, bank deposits, casino chips, lavish travel, and gifts from businessman Milton Choy. In return, Stant used his position to award over $19 million in no-bid contracts and purchase orders to Choy’s company. This wasn’t oversight; it was a deliberate, years-long betrayal of public trust.

“Mr. Stant was a public official given the discretion to use government funds for public contracts with the public’s expectation that he would do so honestly,” stated U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors. “By directing public contracts to a specific company in exchange for money and other financial benefits, all in violation of federal law and state ethics requirements, he failed to discharge that responsibility faithfully.” Connors’ office made it clear they are dedicated to rooting out this type of abuse.

The FBI, which spearheaded the investigation, echoed that sentiment. “Mr. Stant was a public servant entrusted by the taxpayers to act in their best interest,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill. “Instead, he violated that trust by accepting nearly $2 million in bribes. Today’s sentence sends a clear message: the FBI will work tirelessly to investigate public corruption and bring those responsible to justice.” This case demonstrates that no one is above the law, even those sworn to uphold it.

Stant’s position as Director of DEM, held from approximately December 2015 to December 2018, gave him significant control over crucial county resources. He exploited that power for personal gain, effectively stealing from the taxpayers of Maui County. The $1.9 million forfeiture judgment aims to recoup some of the ill-gotten gains, but the damage to public confidence is significant.

The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ken Sorenson, Micah Smith and Michael Albanese. This conviction serves as a stark reminder that public corruption will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted in Hawaii, and that those who abuse their positions of power will be held accountable. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.

RELATED: Maui Official Gets 10 Years for $2M Bribery Scheme

RELATED: Maui Official Stant Gets 10-Year Jail for Bribery