March Sentencing Set For Kealohas And Their Co-Conspirators
In December, a federal judge is expected to decide whether Katherine Kealoha’s sentencing should be based on sentencing guidelines for deprivation of civil rights or obstruction of justice.
A March sentencing has been set for the high-profile players in Honolulu鈥檚 biggest-ever public corruption case.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Michael Seabright set March 17 as the sentencing date for Katherine聽Kealoha, a former deputy city prosecutor, and her husband, former Honolulu Police聽chief Louis Kealoha, who last week signed separate plea agreements with federal prosecutors.
The Kealohas will be sentenced separately.
Katherine Kealoha pleaded guilty to three felonies in two federal criminal cases involving bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and 鈥渕isprision鈥 of a felony — knowing someone committed a crime and failing to report it — for aiding and not reporting her brother鈥檚 alleged drug trafficking.
Aggravated identity theft has a mandatory two-year minimum sentence. Sentencing guidelines for the other felonies vary, and a series of hearings will take place to determine which ones apply.
Louis Kealoha formally pleaded guilty to one felony count of bank fraud and will remain out of custody on bail until his sentencing.
Seabright said there is a disagreement among the defense attorneys as to whether or should apply to Katherine Kealoha’s sentencing, and he set a series of dates in November and early December to hear arguments on the matter. He scheduled a hearing for Dec. 16 to issue a decision.
Gary Singh, the Honolulu attorney appointed by a judge to represent Katherine Kealoha, said he anticipates the worst-case scenario for his client would be a sentence of 15 to 20 years.
He said he could not speculate on Louis Kealoha’s sentence because he is not his client.
Police officers Derek Hahn and Minh-Hung 鈥淏obby鈥 Nguyen will be sentenced separately on March 18. A jury convicted them in June on federal conspiracy charges and for obstruction of justice.
