Former Maui Police Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation
HONOLULU – Former Maui Police Department Officer Anthony Maldonado, 29, of Kahului, Hawaii, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and required to pay $1,917.70 in restitution for his role in unlawfully seizing money and conspiring to obstruct justice.
On September 30, 2015, Maldonado conducted a traffic stop of J.A. and stole approximately $1,800 during that stop. He then conspired with several other MPD officers and civilians to intimidate J.A. and bribe him to withdraw his theft complaint.
The investigation revealed that Maldonado tasked his former brother-in-law, Damien Kaina, with executing the bribery plan. Kaina and his getaway driver, Walter Ahuna, a former MPD sergeant, both previously pleaded guilty to participating in the obstruction plot.
J.A. immediately reported the attempted bribe to MPD and delivered the bribe money to detectives. The day after the bribe, Maldonado, Kaina, and another MPD officer, Chase Keliipaakaua, called J.A. in an effort to pressure him to withdraw the complaint.
“Defendant Maldonado stole money from a civilian and conspired with others, including other law enforcement officers, to intimidate and bribe his victim, defying the law he swore to protect,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore.
The FBI conducted the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Marc Wallenstein of the District of Hawaii and Trial Attorney Mary J. Hahn of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Key Facts
- State: Hawaii
- Category: Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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