HONOLULU -- Former union leader Gary Rodrigues, 61, was sentenced Tuesday to five years and four months in prison for his conviction on 101 federal counts of mail fraud, money laundering and embezzlement.
U.S. District Judge David Ezra allowed the former United Public Workers state director to remain free pending appeal. Defense attorney Doren Weinberg said he is confident the conviction will be overturned on appeal.
"We are very gratified that Gary remains free to pursue the appeal because as I am sure you all know, we are very optimistic and even confident this will be reversed on appeal," defense attorney Doron Weinberg said.
Ezra also fined Rodrigues $50,000, placed him on three years of supervised probation after his release and ordered him to pay $378,000 restitution to the union.
Ezra agreed that Rodrigues had done a lot of good for the UPW and the community over the years, but he said the evidence was also overwhelming that he has stolen a lot of money from the very people he promised to serve.
"There was a lot of money that was involved. He violated the trust that the UPW and his members placed in him," federal prosecutor Florence Nakakuni said. "I am actually quite shocked that he wouldn't accept some responsibility, but to date he has not and I don't expect him to ever do that."
Rodrigues, once one of the most powerful labor leaders in the state, was convicted last November. He was found guilty of taking kickbacks from companies that did business with the union, as well as steering consulting fees to his daughter, Robin Rodrigues Sabatini, for work she did not perform.
His daughter was convicted on 95 counts of mail fraud and money laundering. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 9.
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Rodrigues Sentenced To Prison
