Teacher pleads guilty to
buying machine-gun parts
A Nanakuli Elementary schoolteacher admitted yesterday in federal court that he knew it was wrong to obtain machine-gun components from Germany last July over the Internet.
John Kadota, 43, allegedly told federal agents when questioned about the transaction that he "kinda thought it wasn't kosher, but it wasn't that bad and he just wanted the receiver (machine-gun frame)," according to court documents filed yesterday in U.S. District Court.
Under an agreement with prosecutors, Kadota, of Kapolei, pleaded guilty to federal charges of knowingly possessing the parts to make a machine gun and buying a machine-gun receiver, knowing it was illegal to import it from a foreign country.
A receiver is a frame that would allow conversion of a semiautomatic weapon into a machine-gun, with other components.
Kadota faces a maximum 10 years in prison for the possession and a maximum five years on the importation charge.
It is not illegal under federal law for civilians to own machine guns, but they are subject to strict licensing regulations and a $200 tax. Some states, however, prohibit private possession of such firearms, including Hawaii.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Marshall Silverberg, Kadota admitted to e-mailing Patrick Bastelman in Berlin last June and arranging for the purchase of an AUG A2 semiautomatic rifle, including a receiver and scope for $1,964. In July, Bastelman mailed two packages to Kadota and falsely labeled them as a "replacement part" or "plastic/metal collection parts, birthday gift."
According to federal authorities, the Customs Service intercepted two parcels from Germany addressed to Kadota. The contents had been wrapped in tinfoil. Customs officials discovered what they were when the parcels were put through a metal detector, Silverberg said.
One package contained an AUG A2 .223-caliber receiver with serial number defaced, and the other contained a Steyr AUG Model A2 machine-gun trigger group, stock group and partial bolt assembly.
Kadota acknowledged in the plea agreement that when he ordered the parts, he intended to construct a fully automatic weapon.
In court yesterday, Kadota said he initially offered Bastelman $1,000 for a receiver only but was offered the entire kit for $1,900 and accepted it.
"It still doesn't make it right," he told U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway.
His attorney, Loretta Faymonville, also said Kadota was not aware until he received the machine-gun frame that the serial number had been scratched off.
Kadota was ordered to sell the remaining firearms he legally had in his possession when he was arrested.
The machine-gun parts and any other unsold firearms will be disposed of by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Investigators said Kadota already owned 17 firearms when, using his computer at school, he sent an e-mail, ordering the machine-gun frame.
Kadota, a computer resource teacher who has taught at Nanakuli since 1998, was placed on administrative leave shortly after his arrest in August. School officials said at the time that Kadota's interest in firearms did not appear to have affected his work or created a dangerous situation for the children.
Kadota will be sentenced Sept. 15.