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Man jailed in Hawaii
fraud admits $7.9 mil
Cancer Society theft

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Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A former American Cancer Society executive pleaded guilty today to embezzling nearly $8 million from the charity, using it to pay for an addition and deck at his home and landscaping that included 35 Aristocrat pear trees.

Daniel Wiant, 35, admitted bank fraud, money laundering, mail fraud and illegal use of a credit card in thefts since 1997.

Court records show Wiant was sentenced to two prison terms for credit card fraud in Hawaii, the first in 1987 on the Big Island and the second a year later on Oahu.

Wiant also admitted taking $20,000 from the Maui Foodbank where he was executive director in 1992, but was never charged after promising to pay it back.

"I have extremely deep regret for my action as well as the damage I have done to the American Cancer Society," Wiant said in a written statement. "I make no excuses for my actions and accept all consequences deemed appropriate by the court."

He smiled at his wife, Kathy, who was seated in the front row, after U.S. District Judge Joseph Kinneary accepted the plea agreement.

Wiant's wife had turned him in to authorities after he called her in June to tell her he had stolen $6.9 million from the charity by transferring it to a bank in Austria.

No sentencing date was set for Wiant, who remains in custody.

The total maximum sentence possible for all four charges is 65 years in prison and about a $2 million fine.

U.S. Attorney Sharon Zealey said prosecutors will argue for a stiff punishment. "His primary victim is an organization that affects a lot of people," she said. "Eight million dollars would go a long way for cancer victims."

Defense attorney Victor Merullo has estimated Wiant will get five to nine years, based on federal guidelines.

Authorities say that beginning in April 1997, Wiant began stealing from Cancer Society accounts what would amount to about $7.9 million. He was chief administrative officer for six years at the Ohio division.