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4 more defendants plead not guilty in gambling case

COURTESY HPD / 2012
One of 77 sweepstakes machines

The remaining four defendants in the racketeering and gambling case involving Products Direct Sweepstakes machines pleaded not guilty Monday morning in state court.

Michael Miller, Michael Madali, Desiree Haina and Quentin Canencia remain free on bail.

Circuit Court Judge Richard Perkins confirmed that bail was set at $200,000 for Miller and $50,000 for each of the other defendants.

Perkins also scheduled all four to stand trial in July with Alexander Alejandro, Gary Danley, Clayton Simeona, Eugene Simeona Jr. and PJY Enterprises owner Tracy Yoshimura. They pleaded not guilty on Thursday.

An Oahu grand jury returned a 414-court indictment against all nine defendants on May 1 charging them with racketeering, promotion of gambling, money laundering and possession of gambling devices. The indictment came one day after a federal judge ruled that the machines are gambling devices in a civil case brought by Yoshimura and six of the other defendants against the Honolulu police and prosecuting attorney departments.

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