Whatever
Happened To...
An update on past news
Kauai embezzler nears
parole’s end and is
paying restitutionQuestion: What ever happened to Kauai County Treasurer Henry Furutani, who was convicted of embezzling more than $1 million?
Answer: Originally charged with 250 thefts over a three-year period, Furutani pleaded guilty to three counts of theft, racketeering and forgery. He admitted stealing $1.3 million from Kauai County and taking another $200,000 from a private company that rented golf carts at the county's Wailua Golf Course.
On Dec. 13, 1994, Furutani was sentenced to a minimum of four years in prison and a maximum of 10 years. He was paroled on March 19, 1999, after serving 4 1/2 years, according to state Department of Public Safety records.
Furutani, now 52, still lives in Lihue. His parole will end in December when the maximum 10-year sentence expires.
Furutani also was ordered to pay $1,326,950.20 in restitution.
To date he has paid back $43,265.20, leaving a balance of $1,283,685 still owed Kauai County.
According to the Department of Public Safety -- which took over restitution collections from the Judiciary in November -- Furutani is required to pay 20 percent of his income as restitution.
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