Former First Hawaiian Bank manager Lani Ann Miho embezzled more than $2.6 million over a 10-year period in large part because she has a compulsive personality disorder and was dealing with other mental health issues, her lawyer, William McCorriston, said in federal court Monday.
U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright said he considered Miho’s condition among a number of other factors in handing her a six-month prison term for bank embezzlement. He also ordered Miho to pay a $7,500 fine.
Miho, 52, has already paid back the money she stole.
When bank officials uncovered her theft in October 2010, Miho had paid back more than $2 million because of the way she stole the money. Miho created 56 personal checking, consumer loan, personal line of credit and credit card accounts for 24 fictitious customers, withdrew money from the accounts and made loan payments over the years, sometimes creating new accounts to pay off older ones.
She paid back the remaining $609,449 before the bank turned the case over to the FBI for criminal prosecution.
Miho worked as a personal banker and branch manager on Oahu and Hawaii island, including in Hilo and Honokaa, during the 10 years she committed the embezzlement. She had been an employee of First Hawaiian for nearly 29 years when bank officials fired her in November 2010.
McCorriston said Miho’s behavior during the 10 years bears out her psychiatrist’s diagnosis of compulsive personality disorder. He said Miho did things like purchasing 10 identical handbags at the same time and then hoarding them. He said she would also buy 20 bottles of shampoo and store them in a closet.
He said Miho grew up in a family that was emotionally disconnected, and she suffered from poor self-esteem from having other kids tease her about her birthmarks. Those problems grew worse when she discovered her husband had an extramarital affair 15 years ago, McCorriston said.
Seabright said he has seen many people appear before him who have had far worse experiences yet don’t attribute their criminal behavior to them. But he noted that Miho is getting psychiatric care, has no other criminal history, is unlikely to commit another crime, paid back all that she stole, is a good wife and mother, has the support of friends and extended family and, except for the embezzlement, was a law-abiding citizen.
