The Maui News

WAILUKU — A Makawao man was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for his participation in an illegal sports betting operation.

Arthur “Bobo” Leal, 61, also was placed on four years’ probation when he was sentenced Thursday.

“You’re a hardworking guy, very hardworking,” 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill said in sentencing Leal. “You try to do well in the community.”

Cahill said Leal is a longtime business owner and successful businessman.

“But I look at the amounts that the police have indicated here and your contribution to the overall scheme,” Cahill said. “Given the amounts of money that were involved here, I do think the maximum fine of $10,000 is appropriate.”

Leal was among 23 people arrested and charged in connection with the betting operation from Oct. 3 to Dec. 21, 2015.

His fine is the largest that Cahill has ordered for defendants in the case. Most have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing, while cases are pending against several others.

Leal had pleaded no contest to first-degree promoting gambling, with other charges dismissed in exchange for his plea.

Cahill said he would have given Leal a chance to keep the conviction off his record but he isn’t eligible because he received a deferral for third-degree assault in 1999.

The judge noted that any gambling proceeds are subject to being taxed.

He said he didn’t think Leal had reported the proceeds in filing tax returns.

“You show me you paid taxes on all this money you got . . . then I can reduce the fine down dramatically,” Cahill said. “Since I do not believe this occurred, I do think the maximum fine is justified.”

Another defendant, Winona Apuna, 88, of Pukalani, was ordered to pay a $250 fine and was placed on one year’s probation Thursday.

She had pleaded no contest to first-degree promoting gambling.

“I’m just sorry for what I did,” she said in court.

“You’ve been doing this for years,” Cahill said in sentencing Apuna. “You like to gamble.”

He said Apuna has multiple prior convictions.

“This is nothing new,” he said.

Cahill said he imposed a smaller fine for Apuna, who lives on two pensions, “because she just doesn’t have a whole lot.”

“You can’t be gambling while you’re on probation,” he told her. “Please, just follow the law.”