Hawaii Ethics Commission Fines Former Athletics Director $274K
Glenn Nitta was alleged to have violated the state ethics code while employed by Mililani High School.
The largest administrative fee ever levied by the stems from allegations of theft and embezzlement of funds belonging to the Mililani High School Athletic Booster Club.
On Thursday, the commission announced that it had resolved charges against Glenn Nitta, a former athletics director at the public school.
The charges, , include allegations that Nitta used the Booster Club鈥檚 bank account “to write checks to himself and his family members, make monthly payments on personal credit card accounts belonging to himself and his son, withdraw cash from ATMs in Las Vegas for his personal use, and pay off personal bills, loans, and entertainment and travel expenses for himself and others.”
Nitta, according to a press release, did not contest the underlying allegations and cooperated in the investigation. The commission and Nitta settled the matter with an administrative penalty of $274,500, which is based on 338 violations of the .
“The commission felt the high amount of the fine was necessary considering the egregious nature of Mr. Nitta鈥檚 actions,鈥 said Wesley Fong, the commission’s chair. 鈥淭his enforcement action shows that state employees are held to the highest standards of ethical conduct and will be held accountable for any violation.”
Nitta in criminal court in November of eight felony charges of theft and failure to pay taxes for the same actions. He paid a full restitution of $406,000, was placed on probation and ordered to pay a fine of $155,000.
