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Judge grants chance
for Ewa fraud figure to
clear his record

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By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

A state judge agreed to defer the guilty plea of a defendant in the $6 million Ewa Villages relocation fraud case and sentenced him today to a term similar to probation.

Benton Post had pleaded guilty to first-degree theft in connection with the largest scam in the history of the city government. He has the opportunity to erase the conviction from his record after five years if he stays out of trouble.

During the city's investigation into the theft of relocation funds, Post was the "first and only suspect without a plea agreement" who informed investigators of his involvement, said deputy prosecutor Randal Lee. "He readily admitted what he did was wrong" and took responsibility."

Because he came forward, the state entered into a plea agreement in which Post admitted helping relocation official Michael Kahapea steal money from the city. Post also agreed to testify against Kahapea and other codefendants, including electrical contractor Kenneth Lauahi, who died in December.

Post apologized today for his conduct. "I'm ashamed and sorry for my actions. I made a great mistake, I can't apologize enough and want to make amends and restitution."

His attorney, Darwin Ching, said Post is not likely to engage in criminal conduct again and that a deferral of his plea would be appropriate.

Circuit Judge Victoria Marks ordered Post to pay restitution of $19,000 -- less than half the total amount he took from the city. Kahapea got the other half.

Post was a maintenance manager at the Ewa Villages repair shop of Aloha State Tours when Kahapea approached him. During trial, Post said Kahapea told him he was a hard worker and should be entitled to some relocation money.

Post said he signed blank forms at Kahapea's request. He later learned that the forms were requests for payment from the city. He acknowledged he knew what he was doing was illegal because he was not being asked to relocate, nor did he perform any moving work for other tenants.

Kahapea was convicted and sentenced to 50 years in prison for stealing nearly $6 million from the Ewa Villages relocation project by rigging bids and submitting false invoices for moves that were never performed or were done at inflated costs.

He is appealing his conviction, pending trial on similar charges involving the theft from other city relocation projects at West Loch and Middle Street and from coin-operated laundry machines at two city-run housing projects.

Lauahi died before going to trial on charges of theft and forgery in connection with the Ewa Villages fraud.