Identity theft ringleader pleads guilty

One of the leaders and the final member of what City Prosecutor Keith Kane­shiro describes as a well-organized and sophisticated identity theft ring pleaded guilty in state court Tuesday to 78 counts of theft and identity theft.

Pyong "Peter" Pak also pleaded guilty to drug and drug paraphernalia possession.

He faces mandatory 20-year prison terms for the two most serious charges, first-degree identity theft, at sentencing in January.

Because he has two prior felony convictions, Pak must serve at least 13 years and four months of a 20-year term behind bars before he can be eligible for parole. The Hawaii Paroling Authority can set a higher minimum. Pak, a South Korean national, could also be deported.

Kaneshiro said Pak and Gerald N. Wai­alae II were the leaders of a 14-member identity theft ring that was responsible for at least half of the identity theft complaints on Oahu in 2010. He said the ring victimized at least 256 Hawaii residents between May 1, 2010, and Jan. 27, 2011, and stole an estimated $218,500.

The ring members obtained their victims’ personal information by breaking into their vehicles, homes and places of work, stealing their mail and rummaging through their trash. They then used the information to create fake identification cards and counterfeit checks and to open credit card accounts.

Waialae pleaded guilty to 56 charges in May and was sentenced last month to a 10-year prison term.

Eleven others are serving sentences ranging from probation to 10 years in prison.

The 14th member of the ring, Kimberly K. Nabarro, pleaded no contest to 54 charges in April. She is hoping for a deferral of her pleas and to avoid conviction at her sentencing in March.

The others convicted of identity theft-related charges, are:

» Al Alvarez, sentenced to concurrent 10- and five-year terms on 25 counts.

» Arnold Agtang, sentenced to concurrent 10- and five-year terms on 47 counts.

» Jefferson Ganado, sentenced to concurrent 10- and five-year terms on 41 counts.

» Randy Garcia, sentenced to concurrent 10- and five-year terms on 106 counts.

» Randall Wallace, sentenced to concurrent 10- and five-year terms on eight counts.

» Christopher Cole, sentenced to five years’ probation, jail and restitution on 17 counts.

» Rachel Taong-Parker, sentenced to five years’ probation, jail and restitution on four counts.

» Walter Cascayan, sentenced to five years’ probation, jail and restitution on four counts.

» Scott Brunson, sentenced to five years’ probation, jail and restitution on 17 counts.

» Alana Eskildson, sentenced to five years’ probation, jail and restitution on one count.

» Clyde Lee, sentenced to five years’ probation, jail and restitution on one count.