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Ex-cop convicted
in gambling case to
serve at home

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By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

A retired Maui police lieutenant who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and operation of an illegal gambling business will not serve any prison time.

U.S. District Judge Alan C. Kay yesterday sentenced Gordon Cockett to three years probation and four months home detention with electronic monitoring.

He is the third man to be sentenced out of seven men indicted with operating a bookmaking business during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 college and professional football seasons. The group operated out of the Maui office of the state Department of Accounting and General Services, where three of the defendants were employed.

Cockett also was ordered to serve one year probation for failure to pay a wagering tax, to be served concurrently, and pay a $9,000 fine.

Hayden Aluli, Cockett's attorney, had sought probation, saying his client had no prior criminal history and was serving his community in various ways before he was indicted on the charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni had asked for a sentence at the lower end of the sentencing guidelines based on Cockett's cooperation with prosecutors.

Cockett yesterday expressed regret for his actions.

"I have learned a good, hard lesson in this experience and assure you it will not happen again," he told the court.

When asked why he got involved in the first place, Cockett replied he wasn't sure, but he had already retired from the police force.

"A person in your stature should have never gotten involved in such criminal activity," Kay scolded Cockett later. "This is an embarrassment to your reputation in the law enforcement community."

Two codefendants who also pleaded guilty, but did not cooperate to the extent Cockett has were sentenced earlier this month to five years probation and home detention.

Four remaining codefendants, including the alleged ringleader, have yet to be sentenced.