Florida man guilty in kickbacks case
Advertiser Staff
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A 50-year-old Florida man pleaded guilty this week to federal charges in connection with receiving $55,000 in kickbacks related to investments by the United Public Workers mutual aid fund.
Albert Anthony Hewitt, the investment advisor for the union's fund, which provided hospitalization and other benefits for participating UPW union members and their dependents, admitted to receiving the kickbacks in 1998 and 1999.
The kickbacks were related to the fund's $1.1 million in investments in Best Rescue Systems Inc., which manufactured products to help rescue people from multistory buildings, according to Hewitt's plea agreement.
The plea agreement said Hewitt was being paid by the fund, but also received payments as "5 percent finders fee" from Best Rescue for the investments.
"I took fees that I was not entitled to," Hewitt told U.S. Magistrate Leslie Kobayashi.
He pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts related to receiving the money.
Hewitt is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 23. Each of the two counts carry a prison term of up to three years.
WOMAN USES PEN TO ESCAPE ATTACKER
Police are investigating a report filed by a 24-year-old woman who said a stranger grabbed her from behind and pushed her into a clump of bushes while she was walking home through Waikiki about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Police said the woman pulled a pen out of her purse to defend herself, forcing the attacker to release his grip. The woman was able to run away and contact police.
No description of the attacker was immediately available.
SUSPECT, 16, HELD IN SEXUAL ASSAULT
A 16-year-old Makakilo boy was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree terroristic threatening after a 14-year-old girl told police she was assaulted by the boy, whom she knows, on Aug. 22 and 28.
The girl told investigators that the boy threatened to harm her if she went to authorities about the alleged attacks.
The boy was questioned and released pending further investigation.
