One of the ringleaders of a gang of copper thieves that plagued H-1 and H-2 Freeways pleaded guilty yesterday to charges of criminal conspiracy, racketeering and money laundering.

James B. "Freeway Jimmy" Taylor Jr. faces 10 years in prison for each charge and will be sentenced June 17 by Circuit Judge Karen Ahn.

Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Van Marter said eight of 10 defendants indicted in the case late last year have now entered guilty pleas, including Taylor's wife, Regina L. Foster.

Van Marter declined further comment because two other defendants — alleged co-ringleader Joseph R. Tano and Dean Rice — are still scheduled to go to trial.

When the indictment was returned, Van Marter said the gang struck 12 sites on the freeways, some more than once, stripping out 72,000 pounds of copper wire worth $563,000.

The thefts that darkened O'ahu roadways for years declined sharply after Taylor was arrested and charged in late June, according to the prosecutor.

Members of the group sold the wiring to metal recycling companies, visiting various establishments a total of 478 times.

State officials estimated the cost of damage repair to be $3 million.

Members of the ring were motivated by addictions to crystal methamphetamine, prosecutors and state sheriffs said in December.

The defendants allegedly stopped vehicles at "pull boxes" on freeway light poles and cut the copper wiring inside the boxes.

They would disguise their activities by parking their vehicle next to a pull box and putting up the hood to indicate car trouble, according to Van Marter.

Sometimes they would place gas cans nearby as if the vehicles had run out of fuel, he said.

At least once, a defendant hid inside a heavy-duty plastic garbage bag on the side of the freeway, the prosecutor said.