Three individuals from Hawaii's Big Island have been found guilty of engaging in a bribery scheme that lines their pockets at the expense of the community's need for affordable housing. According to a recent statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Paul Joseph Sulla, Jr., Gary Charles Zamber, and Rajesh P. Budhabhatti offered bribes to a government official to facilitate the approval of lucrative development contracts.
The trio was convicted by a federal jury after a three-week trial, with District Judge Jill A. Otake overseeing the proceedings. Sulla, an attorney of 78 years of age, Zamber, 55, also a lawyer, and Budhabhatti, 65, a businessman, together conspired with Housing Specialist Alan Rudo, giving him nearly $2 million in return for his favor. Despite promises made in their affordable housing agreements (AHAs), not a single unit of housing was actually built, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Each defendant now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the honest services wire fraud charges, adding up to a collective total of nine counts. Sulla is also contending with the added weight of a money laundering charge, which could result in an additional 10 years. Sentences for the accused are set later this year in October, with an announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office noting exact dates for each individual.
Acting United States Attorney Ken Sorenson didn't mince words when making the government's stance clear. "Today’s verdict reiterates our unwavering message to those who bribe and attempt to buy the discretion of Hawaii’s public officials at the expense of the public’s trust and the integrity of our public institutions—you will be federally prosecuted and brought to justice," he said, as detailed by statements from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Equally unyielding was Mayor Kimo Alameda's commitment to restoring public trust, announcing that the County has since fortified internal controls and oversight.
As sentencing dates near, the community hopes for a turning point in the fight against public corruption. Alan Rudo, who cooperated and testified during the trial, will be sentenced on August 13. The case was investigated by the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohammad Khatib and Margaret Nammar, along with DOJ Trial Attorney William Gullota, leading the prosecution, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
