The head of a movie production truck company who admitted to helping Hawaii Teamsters' Joseph Tavares torch trucks of a competitor in 1991 was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. Man gets 2-year arson
sentence for burning movie
production trucks
By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.comGeorge Cambra's sentence, issued yesterday by U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor, reflects the assistance he gave to federal prosecutors that resulted in a February 1999 indictment charging him and Tavares with conspiracy to commit arson. Had it not been for Cambra coming forward in 1994 and admitting his involvement, the arson would have gone unsolved, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Marshal Silverberg.
Two movie trucks owned by Auto Mastics Inc. and Mokulua Consultants Inc. were destroyed in separate fires.
Tavares was convicted in 1999 and sentenced to 15 years for conspiring to and committing arson, threatening a Walt Disney location manager, and robbing tourists of their film after they wandered onto a production set at Kualoa Ranch.
Cambra pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson under a plea agreement and testified against Tavares at trial.
Cambra and Tavares were found jointly liable for $268,000 for torching the trucks. Cambra so far has repaid about $100,000.
Cambra's attorney, Brook Hart, said his client is a different person now and will continue to abide by the law.
"George appreciates the opportunity to have a sentence which is consistent with returning to the community, work lawfully and make restitution," Hart said.
