Former police officer pleads not guilty in identity theft case
A 56-year-old former Honolulu police officer pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges in connection with an alleged scheme to collect special duty pay by impersonating other officers.
Dave E. Furtado, who left the force this summer, is scheduled for trial before Circuit Judge Randal Lee the week of Nov. 21 on eight felony charges — two of second-degree theft, three of second-degree forgery, and three of second-degree identity theft.
An Oahu Grand Jury indicted him on Sept. 19. He allegedly worked two special-duty shifts in August and October last year using the identities of two other officers to get around a 20-hour per week limit on special duty assignments. He received about $800.
Second-degree identity theft carries a prison term of up to 10 years. The other felonies carry prison terms of up to five years.
The city prosecutor’s office said Furtado performed the special duty posing as the other officers and later forged the signatures of the other officers to cash the paychecks. The other two officers did not know about Furtado’s scheme.
Furtado retired after the police Internal Affairs Division was made aware of the matter.
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