Assaggio customers remain faithful

The co-owner of the Assaggio restaurants said business is continuing as usual despite her husband admitting in federal court last week that he laundered more than $1 million of illegal gambling proceeds through the popular Italian eateries.

Thomas Ky, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and agreed to forfeit to the government $1,336,500, the amount he laundered for operators of an illegal Internet gambling operation between 2009 and 2012.

Ky’s wife, Siri, 55, continues to operate the restaurants, which she said have not been affected by the negative publicity from her husband’s legal troubles.

"My business is still good, our restaurant is still running. That’s his choice to do that, but I don’t know too much about it," Siri said Tuesday, adding that she has been separated from her husband for two to three years. "I’m running the business and don’t know too much of what’s going on. Customers are still coming. All the customers, everybody worries about what’s been going on. They ask questions and I tell them the truth. We do everything from our heart so people know. They know what kind of people we are … so a lot of people still support us."

The family-owned business with restaurants in Ala Moana, Hawaii Kai, Kahala, Mililani, Kailua and Kapolei has 200 employees.

"I have 200 employees to take care of, so I cannot be closed down," Ky added. "We have to make sure the restaurant is running and make sure they have a job. I’m working seven days a week, 14 hours (a day). We all work hard."

Twenty-one people have already pleaded guilty for their involvement in the gambling operation, which funneled money through a phony cleaning business that Ky paid with the gambling proceeds. Ky faces a maximum 20-year prison term and a fine twice the value of the amount of money he laundered when he is sentenced in May.

Kapahulu resident Joy McGee, a regular patron who dines at Assaggio at least once or twice a month, said the restaurant hasn’t been tainted by the actions of its owner.

"I wouldn’t stop eating there because the owner’s an idiot. I eat there because of the food," she said. "That’s like our go-to restaurant. I love the restaurant. I’ve eaten at all of them. I’ve never been disappointed with the food or service."