Pair echo
no contest plea
by Aki

Like the senator,
they will ask that they later
be cleared of the crimes

By Linda Hosek
Star-Bulletin

The last two defendants indicted for allegedly running a gambling operation on Sen. James Aki's Nanakuli property in 1993 and 1994 pleaded no contest to all charges this morning in Circuit Court.

Myron Thompson and his wife, Freda Logo, entered their plea before Judge Wilfred Watanabe, who set sentencing for Dec. 3.

Aki pleaded no contest July 7 to two felony and racketeering charges, but also asked the judge to allow him to clear his record if he commits no additional law violations within a specific time. He will be sentenced Nov. 26.

Thompson (not the former Bishop Estate trustee) and Logo asked for the same consideration.

Their charges include promoting gambling, illegally owning a business and two counts of failing to report income.

The state alleged that the defendants grossed up to $8,000 a day during bingo games from November 1993 through March 1994.

Myles Breiner, Thompson's attorney, said they changed their plea because they recognized that they broke the law and had to take responsibility.

He said the couple had thought that bingo was a legal way to raise money because it was legal in California and Samoa, and because Aki allowed them to use his property for the games.

Michael Green, Aki's attorney, said Aki believed the couple wanted to raise scholarship money for Polynesians.

If Watanabe denies Aki's request to expunge his record and sends him to prison, Aki would have to leave public office after 26 years.

A fourth defendant, Diana Seiulu, pleaded guilty July 2 to gambling, racketeering and failing to report income. She will be sentenced Sept. 4.