A federal judge sentenced a former city driver’s licensing clerk Monday to four months in jail for fraudulently producing a Hawaii license for an illegal immigrant.
District Judge J. Michael Seabright also ordered that Paige Teruya, 48, be put on two years of supervised release after her jail time. She was ordered to turn herself in by July 31.
In a plea agreement, Teruya pleaded guilty to one count of fraud for unlawfully producing a driver’s license for an illegal immigrant who bypassed the written and driving tests. Seabright granted dismissal of three other counts in connection with the licensing scheme.
She worked at the satellite city hall on Dillingham Boulevard in Kapalama. Teruya was a licensing employee for five years before she resigned in March.
During sentencing, Seabright said Teruya’s actions were a breach of trust as a public servant. Her actions put the safety of the public at risk by unlawfully producing licenses for individuals who bypassed the exams, he said.
Attorney Donna Gray, who represented Teruya, a mother of four ages 4 to 18, said she has no prior criminal record.
"She learned a hard lesson in this case," said Gray, adding Teruya has a lot of regret and remorse.
During sentencing, Teruya apologized to Seabright and her family members, who were seated in the courtroom gallery.
"I know I made a terrible, terrible mistake," she said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Song said her actions put lives in danger. Teruya committed the crimes to make a quick buck, he said.
"It was her duty to know the law and uphold the law," he said. "And she failed miserably."
In Chan Park, a driving instructor, arranged the scheme of getting driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. Teruya received a few hundred dollars for each license Park sold.
Park has admitted he accepted $2,000 from an individual interested in getting a fraudulent driver’s license. He also admitted that he accepted an additional $5,000 from the same person who wanted to get a license for someone else.
Last month, Seabright sentenced Park to three months in jail and a year of supervised release. He turned himself in on June 1 and is incarcerated at the federal detention center near the airport.
