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Man fined for illegal sports betting

WAILUKU — A Wailuku man was ordered to pay a fine of nearly $2,000 for participating in an illegal sports betting operation.

Neal Kajihara, 45, was given a chance to keep a felony gambling conviction off his record if he follows court requirements for the next four years.

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

Kajihara was among 23 people arrested and charged for allegedly participating in the betting operation from Oct. 3 to Dec. 21, 2015.

In sentencing Kajihara on Tuesday, 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill noted that Kajihara was one of the defendants placing bets.

Cahill said Kajihara was “very hardworking” and it wasn’t likely that he would reoffend.

Police reports indicated that Kajihara placed $2,500 in bets “in a relatively short period of time,” Cahill said.

“He still is, by his own statements, owed $6,300,” Cahill said. “Another defendant, who has now plead, admitted he wasn’t going to pay him because the money was confiscated.”

Cahill imposed a fine of $1,960, which he said was 20 percent of Kajihara’s total bets.

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