Grand jury indicts
3 in bank fraud

Star-Bulletin staff

A federal grand jury has indicted three people for stealing about $82,000 by depositing a stolen check into dormant accounts at American Savings Bank and later withdrawing the money.

Michael J. Christian of Wahiawa, Patrick K. Hokoana of Honolulu and former bank teller Lilia A. Chong of Maui were indicted yesterday on one count of bank fraud, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and $1 million in fines.

According to an affidavit, Chong allegedly assisted the men in obtaining the money by opening nine accounts in May 1998 at the Wailuku branch under an account holder whose account was dormant.

Additional deposits and large withdrawals were made from the accounts through an automated teller machine within the next few days, according to the affidavit.

Later in the month, Hokoana went to the bank pretending to be the account holder and tried to withdraw the remaining money in the accounts.

He left with $60,000 -- half of that in the form of a cashier's check, according to the affidavit.