HONOLULU (KHON2) — The taxpayer-funded legal bills for the former Honolulu city officials who faced federal charges are in, with fees in the six figures.
A Honolulu City Council committee advanced two resolutions following their executive session, adding funds to contracts started two years ago to defend Max Sword and Donna Leong.
Sword and Leong pled guilty earlier this year for conspiring to illegally pay former police Chief Louis Kealoha from police funds without council approval when the former chief was under federal investigation.
Leong’s legal bill totaled $102,000 with Sword’s bill totaling almost $106,000.
Following their plea, they were sentenced to time served and were ordered to pay a $250,000 restitution to the city.
Former Managing Director Roy Amemiya entered a deferred prosecution agreement over his role in Kealoha’s payout. Amemiya’s legal tab paid by the city was estimated to cost approximately $100,000.