State funds stolen A former state Department of Accounting and General Services employee is expected to plead guilty to charges in an ongoing theft investigation into state construction projects, including state Capitol renovations.
A former state engineer is
expected to admit to taking
money from renovation
contractors, including work
done at the state CapitolBy Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.comFidel Eviota, 52, surrendered at the District Court cellblock at 10:40 a.m. yesterday to be booked. Later, he was released on his own recognizance.
The state Attorney General's Office charged Eviota yesterday with first-degree theft, money laundering and unlawful ownership of a business.
First-degree theft involves property or services valued at more than $20,000 and is punishable by a 10-year jail term.
Eviota's attorney, Scott Colleens, said his client has waived grand jury indictment and is expected to plead as charged in the complaint at his arraignment on Aug. 16 in Circuit Court.
"Mr. Eviota wants to take responsibility for his actions, for what I view as a serious error in judgment."
Eviota, who cooperated early in the investigation, has been working with the Attorney General's Office on the case over the last few months, Collins said.
"We've been trying to resolve this matter," Collins said.
The charges stem from an investigation begun in July 1999 by the Investigations Division of the Attorney General's Office. The investigation found that between August 1995 and June 1999, Eviota used a shell company and several people to launder money he had collected from construction contractors for his personal use, said Deputy Attorney General Christopher Young.
Eviota was an engineer with the Department of Accounting and General Services assigned to the Inspection Branch. He oversaw state construction projects, including the state Capitol renovations -- and worked with contractors and designers to ensure projects were completed on time and within budget.
He left the department on Nov. 30, 1998.
Eviota's arrest does not end the state's investigation. Young confirmed there are other individuals being investigated, but he declined further comment.
Wayne Kimura, Department of Accounting and General Services comptroller since May, said the department has cooperated with the attorney general's investigation.
The department also strengthened its internal controls after it learned of the investigation.
If, after the investigation is concluded, more changes are needed, "we will give it our full attention," Kimura said.
Rep. Cynthia Thielen, a critic of the way money was being spent on renovating the Capitol, said it now appears some of the money may have been misappropriated.
"The sad thing," she said, "is this is hard-earned money from taxpayers, and DAGS had a responsibility to monitor this project and be much more careful with money that was spent."
The Capitol renovations were estimated to have cost about $67 million, but after the costs of being placed temporarily in other buildings and of the controversial koa benches are factored in, "it wouldn't be out of line to say it ultimately cost $100 million," Thielen said.
If the allegations are proved to be true, Thielen said: "Things like this make the public really angry at government. I put responsibility right square on the shoulders of DAGS."
In 1999, Gov. Ben Cayetano said the investigation stemmed from an audit of DAGS construction projects that had detected irregularities.
Cayetano said at the time that the investigation involved the Capitol renovation project and another, smaller project.
The four-year state Capitol project -- which included $15 million for the removal of asbestos, $49 million for renovation and remodeling, and $3 million for furniture, moving and other costs -- ended in time for the opening of the 1996 Legislature.
Eviota's criminal record lists only one conviction, for driving under the influence of alcohol in 1998. He was fined $150 and had his license suspended for 90 days.