Witness in officer’s extortion case cuts deal

The key prosecution witness in the federal extortion case against retired Hono­lulu Police Department
Maj. Carlton Nishimura has pleaded guilty to methamphetamine possession in a deal with the prosecutor that reduces her possible penalty to a maximum two-year prison term from a minimum five-year term.

Doni Mei Imose Crisolo pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court to misdemeanor possession of 7.7 grams of the drug under a new charge the government filed against her that same day. The charge carries maximum penalties of a year in jail and $1,000 fine.

But because she committed the crime while free on bond for another criminal case, she faces up to an additional year behind bars and mandatory fine of $1,000 to $100,000.

The judge will determine her prison time at sentencing later this month. Under a plea deal, Crisolo has agreed to pay a $1,000 fine.

The government had originally charged Crisolo with felony possession, with the intent to distribute, 9 grams of methamphetamine. Possessing to distribute 5 or more grams of methamphetamine carries possible penalties of five to 40 years in prison and a maximum $5 million fine. A person faces up to an additional 10 years in prison for committing the felony while free on bond for another criminal case.

Drug Enforcement Administration airport task force members arrested Crisolo at Honolulu Airport in November as she was about to board a flight to Las Vegas. The court had approved the trip to allow her to attend a job-related conference.

At the time of her arrest, Crisolo was free on bond pending sentencing for her role in a methamphetamine distribution ring.

She pleaded guilty in 2009 to conspiracy and other charges and is expected to be sentenced after she testifies in Nishimura’s trial, which is scheduled for September.

Nishimura is facing charges that he conspired with Crisolo to extort money from Crisolo’s ex-husband to protect the ex-husband’s illegal gambling operation and to harass his competitors. He is also facing charges that he lied to investigators, asked Crisolo to lie for him, failed to report the extortion money as income and possessed methamphetamine.