A federal court jury today found Ethan "Malu" Motta and Rodney Joseph Jr. guilty of murder and other charges related to the 2004 Pali Golf Course shootings that left two men dead and a third wounded.

The verdicts were announced just after 3:30 p.m.

Motta, 40, and Joseph, 41, were charged with using murder and other violent crimes to protect and promote a racketeering enterprise that centered on illegal gambling operations in Honolulu in 2003 and early 2004.

Both men were arrested by Honolulu police the evening of Jan. 7, 2004, hours after they allegedly shot and killed Lepo Utu Taliese, 44, and Romilius Corpuz Jr., 40, members of a rival group that collected "protection" money from illegal gambling games.

A third man, Tinoimalu Sao, was shot and seriously wounded.

A third defendant in the case, Kevin "Pancho" Gonsalves, last year pleaded guilty to murder and other crimes and is serving a 27 1/2-year sentence in federal prison.

The shootings took place in the parking lot of the municipal golf course after members of two rival protection crews agreed to hold a meeting there. Soon after the men arrived in their vehicles, the shootings began.