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A Hawaii couple, Neil and Lyndie Kauhi, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to charges arising from a fraudulent investment scheme that bilked 20 people of more than $2.5 million. Read more

A Hawaii couple, Neil and Lyndie Kauhi, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to charges arising from a fraudulent investment scheme that bilked 20 people of more than $2.5 million.

Neil Kauhi, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, a felony. His wife, Lyndie Kauhi, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of misprision of a felony, the crime of knowing about but failing to report the commission of a felony.

Neil Kauhi took victims’ funds under the false assurance he would invest their money in precious metals, real estate, a trucking company and a solar energy company on their behalf, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Kenji M. Price.

Instead, Kauhi spent the money on personal travel, rent and utilities, entertainment, restaurants, vehicles and other purchases for himself and his family, as well as on a daughter’s wedding and other unauthorized investments, the release said.

The fraud took place between October 2012 and April 2018.

During that period, according to court documents, Lyndie Kauhi knew about her husband’s illegal financial transactions and not only did not report them, but tried to conceal the crimes by transferring the victims’ funds into the couple’s personal bank accounts.

Additionally, in an interview with FBI agents on Nov. 8, 2017, she made misleading statements and material omissions regarding the fraud scheme, the release said.

Neil Kauhi faces a maximum prison term of 20 years, and Lyndie Kauhi faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years. Both are being detained without bail until their sentencing, scheduled for Oct. 17.

The couple’s plea agreements include paying restitution to their victims, and Neil Kauhi also agreed to a forfeiture money judgment of nearly $3 million against his assets. Federal authorities already seized $581,618 in funds connected with the sale of real property associated with him.

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca A. Perlmutter.