HONOLULU -- A federal court jury found two Honolulu city liquor inspectors guilty of multiple charges involved in the city Liquor Commission corruption case.

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Retired liquor supervisor Harvey T. Hiranaka and former investigator Eduardo C. Mina were found guilty of racketeering, bribery and extortion.

The convictions end the two-year probe of the Liquor Commission inspectors. A total of eight inspectors, or nearly all of the inspectors of the night shift, were convicted or pled guilty to criminal charges. Six Honolulu liquor inspectors pleaded guilty to overlooking violations in return for bribes from bar owners.

"What the verdict showed as well as the guilty plea showed was this liquor commission was operating as a criminal enterprise and the question that now needs to be asked is how could that happen," prosecutor Michael Seabright said.

Hiranaka left court after the conviction on numerous counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and racketeering. He was accused of taking money from hostess bars and strip clubs who wanted liquor violations ignored. So was Mina, who has been in prison more than a year already. He went to the Philippines during the investigation.

"Not only were they taking money from the bar owners, they were really taking taxpayer money because they weren't doing their jobs, which is what the taxpayers paid them to do," Seabright said.

Neither man took the stand. Their lawyers argued that they thought the $40-$100 payoffs were gifts for which they did nothing in return.

"What he was charged with was bribery and extortion, which requires that he be influenced by the acceptance of money and we believed that their evidence fell short of that," Mina's attorney, Clifford Hunt, said.

The jury also left the courthouse without comment. The judge discouraged jurors about talking to the media.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 14. The two men face up to 20 years in prison. Officials say the two will probably see five years in a federal prison.

The Liquor Commission is under the same management continues to lead as it was during the height of the bribery scheme. Some say the management hasn't done enough to ensure it won't happen again.

Administrator Walter Weatherwax has promised reforms, but so far the changes aren't enough to satisfy critics.

"If we don't see some changes very, very soon and dramatic reforms in the way the Liquor Commission is operated very soon, it's about time we really change the whole leadership of the Liquor Commission," Councilman Charles Djou said.