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Allegations Against Kalani English
Allegations Against Kalani English
KENNETH M. SORENSON
MICAH SMITH FILED IN THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MICHAEL F. ALBANESE #9421 DISTRICT OF HAWAII
Feb 08, 2022, 10:59 am
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Rynne, Clerk of Court
INFORMATION
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INTRODUCTORY ALLEGATIONS
JAMIE KALANI ENGLISH, the defendant, was the Senate Majority Leader of the
Hawaii State Senate (the "Senate"), which is one of the two houses of the State of
scheme to deprive the citizens of the State of Hawaii of his honest services as an
the owner and operator of a Hawaii-based business. In exchange for those bribes,
do so, ENGLISH did not disclose these bribe payments on the State of Hawaii
mandatory Gift Disclosure Statement required of all legislators who receive a gift
valued at more than $200. By failing to disclose the bribes he received, ENGLISH
concealed this material information from both the State Ethics Commission and the
people of Hawaii.
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terms.
state legislators are duty bound to faithfully act for the benefit of the community.
the people: "A11 political power of this State is inherent in the people and the
responsibility for the exercise thereof rests with the people. All government is
this constitution or the Constitution of the United States." Art. III, $ 1. And the
exercised faithfully and honestly: "The people of Hawaii believe that public
officers and employees must exhibit the highest standards of ethical conduct and
that these standards come from the personal integrity of each individual in
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officers will exhibit the highest standards of ethical conduct in carrying out their
"[a]11 eligible public officers, before entering upon the duties of their respective
offices, shall take and subscribe to the following oath or affirmation: 'I do
solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the
United States, and the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, and that I will faithfully
oath requirement applies, among others, to "the members of both houses of the
legislature." Id.
bribes and thereby acting in a manner that serves their own interests, rather than
makes it a crime for a legislator to solicit or accept a pecuniary benefit with the
intent that the legislator's vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other
exceptions not applicable here, Hawaii state law requires legislators to file a Gift
Disclosure Statement, by June 30 of each year, disclosing any gifts "valued singly
or in the aggregate in excess of $200, whether the gift is in the form of money,
service, goods, or in any other form" whenever the "source of the gift or gifts have
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interests that may be affected by official action or lack of action by the legislator or
State Senator representing the 7th Senatorial District, which includes Hana, East
and Upcountry Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe. ENGLISH was first
elected to the Senate beginning in approximately November 2000 and, over the
Information, ENGLISH served as the Senate Majority Leader and as Vice Chair of
(CCWG), which was established pursuant to Act 132 of the Session Laws of
Hawaii in20l8. Act 132 recognized that "public health and the quality of
Hawaii's drinking water, streams, ground waters, nearshore marine areas, and
ocean are being harmed by water pollution from cesspools," Act 132, $ 1, and
or connected sewer systems by the year 2050. The CCWG was tasked with
proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
Person A
10. At all times relevant to this Information, Person A was the owner and
throughout the State of Hawaii. Among other things, Person A's business
regularly entered into contracts with county govemments to provide services and
products in the area of wastewater management. Person A's business was well
11. On a date within the last several years, Person A asked ENGLISH to
support the passage of legislation pending before the Senate that would create and
fund a large project. Although the legislation did not specifically provide any
contracts to Person A's company, Person A's company had a significant advantage
in being awarded a sub-contract because it was one of the few companies that
could do the work. ENGLISH was by this point familiar with the nature of Person
A's business. In response to Person A's request, ENGLISH provided his support
to the legislation. After the legislation passed, Person A gave ENGLISH several
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thousands of dollars for ENGLISH to purchase food and drinks for a political
discuss cesspools. In exchange for a stream of benefits that included hotel rooms
and outright cash, ENGLISH agreed to support specific legislation that would
favor Person A's business. When ENGLISH was informed that Person A was
supportive of the legislation, ENGLISH took official action to promote its passage.
When, at alater date, Person A paid ENGLISH $10,000 in cash to "kill" the
legislation, ENGLISH changed course and agreed to do so, telling Person A that
discussion turned to cesspool legislation, and Person A asked, "I think there's a
cesspool committee out too, right? I don't know how far they've gotten . . . . You
can probably get more information on that . . . ." ENGLISH interjected and said,
"we11, I'm on the committee." Person A expressed surprise and added, "that's
helpful." ENGLISH elaborated: "so I've never attended the meeting purposefully
because . . . I don't want to overshadow their work . . . but I get all the minutes, so
I know what's going on . . . [be]cause at the end they have to turn their report in to
the legislature."
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committee's draft report, and ENGLISH replied, "sure." At a later point in the
conversation, Person A told ENGLISH, "if there's something I can do for you
Kalani, you let me know." ENGLISH responded, "thank you." Person A then
added, "There's gonna be things that I have to ask as well, and I appreciate you, as
my brother and friend . . . there's things that you cannot do, no problem . . . there's
ENGLISH expressly asked Person A to obtain two hotel rooms for him in Las
Vegas, Nevada between June I 9, 2019 to June 23, 2019. During the same call,
ENGLISH also informed Person A that he would send Person A, via email, a drafr"
report the CCWG had authored. The draft report identified solutions to convert
cesspools and Person A's company could potentially benefit from modifications to
the draft report. Person A's company would benefit from having early access to
the draft report in that Person A would have an opportunity to submit input andlor
call, Person A informed ENGLISH that Person A would obtain the Las Vegas
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rooms for ENGLISH, and explained that Person A would likely put the rooms in
Person A's name in order to secure possible comps and discounts. ENGLISH
answered, "Oh, cool. Thank you, oh [Person A], really appreciate it." Then
Person A turned to what he/she sought in return: "No problem, hey hey, so Kalani,
um, one thing um, regarding the document, um, for the cesspool stuff can you . . .
." ENGLISH asked, "Oh, you got it?" Person A replied that he/she had not yet
received the CCWG report. ENGLISH responded that he had previously sent the
report to one of Person A's email addresses but would send the report to another
email address belonging to Person A. ENGLISH explained that the report was still
in the draft stage and that he wanted Person A to review it and provide ENGLISH
with comments. ENGLISH stated: "Well it's the draft, so that's why it's now
waiting for the comments. That's why I wanted you to look at it. Because, if it has
comments, then I can, I can send it in. I can say do this, no we don't like this, we
like that."
17. ENGLISH then turned to another matter for which he sought Person
A's help: "So, I'm, I'm coming to Honolulu tonight, um, and then I have, uh,
actually you know fPerson A] if you can help me with one other thing?"
ENGLISH explained that he had family/friends who were coming into town from
family/friends from Tahiti. ENGLISH stated: "I have, um, like a grandma in,
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from, you know, an older lady, her daughter, and her son, grandson, and their
daughter, um, in from Tahiti . . . so I'm going to see them . . . in Honolulu. Do you
think we could take them out somewhere?" ENGLISH was, in fact, asking Person
A to host ENGLISH's large family group by attending and paying the dinner bill.
Person A responded: "Absolutely, uh well, I may not be able, well, tomorrow I got
like some guests in town from California, but I can help you out with it."
18. Later that day, on or around June 1\,2019, ENGLISH emailed a copy
of the CCWG draft report to Person A. The document was a draft not intended for
public distribution. Within its provisions it included, for example, passages such
as "Other notes (not to share)"; "Cost SOOO important to narrow the scope"; and
attended a lunch meeting together. During the meeting, ENGLISH again informed
Person A that Person A could submit draft comments regarding the CCWG report.
ENGLISH stated: "Well they're still open for, you know, because it's a draft-and
they are asking us to give comments. If there's any comments you guys want, just
write them out and I can submit it." Person A then turned to the matter of
ENGLISH's request for help with the dinner he was hosting with his Tahitian
guests. Person A stated, "Oh, by the w&Y, housekeeping wise, um, sory um that I
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can't make dinner tonight, but um, but anyw ay, yeah um, this is the help. Five
hundred [S500], for you." ENGLISH accepted an envelope with $500 in cash and
said, "Appreciate it." Person A then told ENGLISH, "Yeah, for like, you know for
dinner but thank you for um sending that report."
Several topics of small talk arose, including a discussion about the Tahitian guests
and where ENGLISH would likely take them. Person A then told ENGLISH that
"if the bill comes in under 300 or 350 just keep it. You know?" ENGLISH
replied, "Ah, thank you." Person A then made comments indicating that heishe
was providing ENGLISH the money because Person A was focused on the draft
report and the possibility of shaping legislation and obtaining financial benefits for
Person A's business: "For yourself, yeah. Whatever you hear. You know. But, I
want to thank you for like um . . .you know for supporting this and I think in the
end, Kalani, um we're going to, you know, collectively there's going to be a lot of
um . . . a lot of benefits for everybody in-in return." Person A then flagged for
ENGLISH that one thing Person A noted in the draft report was that "the
technology that is called out . . . . We're the only ones that have sole source
21. On or around June 14, 2019, ENGLISH sent Person A the following
instant message: "Mahalo [Person A], I took the family to fRedacted] Chinese
restaurant and everyone had crab. They were all very huppy.Mahalo again!"
22. Person A paid for two hotel rooms in Las Vegas, Nevada that
ENGLISH had requested. The receipt from the hotel shows that the arrival date
was June 19,2019, the departure date was June 23,2019, and the listed guest name
was Person A. Person A paid for two rooms for that time period, each for $902.50,
A told ENGLISH about a House bill relating to cesspools ("House Bill 1") and
described some of the substance of the bill and the pilot program it would
establish.
cesspool bill in order to benefit Person A's business interests. ENGLISH even
of House Bill 1.
the call, ENGLISH confirmed that he did introduce a companion bill to House Bill
1. ENGLISH then clarified that although his Senate bill was similar to House Bill
27. The companion bill of which ENGLISH spoke was S.B. 2380, which
ENGLISH had introduced on or around January 17 ,2020. The thrust of S.B. 2380
would make funds available to test technologies for waste management solutions
cash for introducing S.B. 2380. After providing ENGLISH the $1,000, Person A
(6J[41's-ft1at's for you for all that, you know, for putting that-that
stated:
It's moving. Yeah." Person A responded, "It is? Oh great." Person A explained
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to ENGLISH that "it's a significant project for us-and, um, you know, for the
state-but also, you know, for our business, so, you know . . . ."
29. Later in the dinner conversation, Person A again brought up the topic
of the bill and told ENGLISH, "it's good to hear that the bill is moving." Person A
said it would be helpful to know where it is, and mentioned that he/she had
downloaded the language. ENGLISH told Person A that "the original language"
was from House B1ll2, which was similar to "the one you wanted." ENGLISH
then confirmed that "it's moving," and then explained that "I kind of don't pay
attention to all the bills," to which Person A replied that he/she would "keep an eye
30. At a later point in the dinner, ENGLISH explained the status of the
bills and what legislative steps were going to happen next. ENGLISH mentioned
that "50 percent of the bills have gone by the wayside right, so we're, things are
sorting." ENGLISH then indicated has willingness to allow Person A to sculpt the
legislation stating: "think about what you would like to see the, for the cesspool
bills," clarifuing that "you don't have to think about the language, just think about
"Kalani, believe me, you'Ve been So, uh, gracious and helpful to me. I will, um,
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know,the language,at least,you know,the point ofthe rnatter。 '' Atthe end ofthe
dirlller,Person A,as was the expected practice when dining with ENGLISH,paid
later date for hiln to kill the cesspool bills,ENGLISH agreed to do so.On or
around March ll,2020,ENGLISH met with Person A. The rneeting took place in
cesspool bills until next session,and paid ENGLISH a bribe totaling S10,000 in
33. ENGLISH and Person A had the following conversation about killing
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Person A: I need to, um, delay that bill like until the next session.
Because then I know like you-you're the one that submitted it sa-and I
don't know how complex this is and I want to-want to-
ENGLISH: Well it's easy to kill bills. It's hard to pass them.
ENGLISH: Okay.
ENGLISH: It's easy to kill bills . . . . This one I can-I can make sure it
doesn't move in the money committees. The one that's on the House
side, um, you know let me just see where it is and I can see it, I can just
tell the Chairs, hold off . . . .
Person A: So, open up that folder. I was going to give you this. Okay,
that's like just, cause, and, and the-that's-1[31'5 ten [$10,000]. Uh-
the only thing is that, as the economy dips and-and we're still in a
pretty healthy economic position, I want to ensure that-uhm-now that
1ys'1s-sh-I mean, we can do this and support our guys then I want to
do it now rather than later when you just kind of like are tapped out.
35. Person A ended the conversation with ENGLISH by saying, "if you
could really help out with this, Kalani, to ensure . . . and I'm sorry that you had to,
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like, go through this for me." ENGLISH then responded to Person A stating: "this
is all, this all part of the work, right, I mean, like I said, to pass a bill is difficult.
To kill a bill . . . easy." Both ENGLISH and Person A laughed, and Person A then
stated that they would talk again'Just to get a pulse on what's happening," and
asked ENGLISH to keep himftrer posted. ENGLISH then exited the vehicle.
call Person A explained that his/her partners were concerned about the status of the
cesspool legislation and were looking for assurances. In response, ENGLISH told
Person A that "because we, um, we, we suspended the legislature . . . basically
everythin gfroze in place. . . all of these types of bills. . . these will die. But they'll
just, they'll remain there, and we probably will not go back into session . . . . all the
bills will die." Person A responded that his/her partners were "insecure" and put a
lot of "resources" and "effort" into the matter. Person A then pressed ENGLISH
for an assurance that ENGLISH would indeed follow through with killing the
responded: "absolutely."
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ENGLISH. During the call, Person A followed up with ENGLISH on the status of
the bills:
Person A: Well yeah, well yeah last I checked, but, you know I just was
checking to see.
an annual Gift Disclosure Statement, by June 30 of each year, disclosing any gifts
"valued singly or in the aggregate in excess of $200, whether the gift is in the form
of money, service, goods, or in any other form" whenever the "source of the gift or
gifts have interests that may be affected by official action or lack of action by the
40. The Gift Disclosure Statement for gifts received between June 1,2019
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his Gift Disclosure Statement with the Hawaii State Ethics Commission on June
30, 2020.
purposefully failed to declare the receipt of any of the funds or financial benefits
conferred upon him by Person A, including the hotel rooms provided to him in
June 2019 at a cost of $1,805, the $500 in cash provided to him in June 2019,the
$1,000 in cash provided to him in February 2020, or the $10,000 in cash provided
received from legitimate sources during that same time period, including, among
other things, gifts of $7 worth of trail mix from a private company, $10 worth of
chili pepper water from the County of Kauai, a $20 goody and snack bag from the
Maui County Council, and a $22 grocery bag of vegetables from a law firm.
ENGLISH also disclosed travel and hotel stipends that he received from legitimate
sources, including a $200 hotel stipend from the National Conference of State
Legislatures.
43. By disclosing these legitimate gifts while concealing the bribes that he
accepted for official action, ENGLISH defrauded the citizens of Hawaii, who were
entitled to ENGLISH's honest and faithful services and entitled to know that
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vehicle in the Kaka'ako area of downtown Honolulu. After ENGLISH entered the
vehicle, Person A handed him an envelope and told him, "that's money for you.
$5,000". Person A then thanked ENGLISH for "all his support," and indicated the
type of legislative assistance he/she would need from ENGLISH. ENGLISH then
placed the $5,000 in currency into his back pocket and told Person A, "I can
definitely use that right now. All the mortgages have become due." ENGLISH
thanked Person A for the money and stated, "thank you I really appreciate it."
unsuccessful effort to hide the $5,000 under the front floor mat of Person A's
vehicle.
STATUTORY ALLEGATIONS
KALANI ENGLISH, the defendant, did knowingly devise and intend to devise a
scheme and artifice to defraud the citizens of the State of Hawaii of their right to
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Majority Leader of the Hawaii State Senate, through bribery and concealment of
material information.
46. It was part of the scheme and artifice to defraud that ENGLISH
secretly used his official position to enrich himself by accepting bribes from
47. On or around June 30, 2020, within the District of Hawaii and
elsewhere, and for the purpose of executing the aforesaid scheme and artifice to
defraud, and attempting to do so, ENGLISH did knowingly transmit, and cause to
ENGLISH electronically submitted his annual Gift Disclosure Statement with the
A11 in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 1346.
Forfeiture Notice
48. The allegations set forth in this Information are hereby re-alleged and
incorporated by reference as though set forth in full herein for the purpose of
noticing forfeiture pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 981(aX1)(C)
49. The United States hereby gives notice that, upon conviction of the
offense in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 1346 set
forth in this Information, JAMIE KALANI ENGLISH, the defendant, shall forfeit
to the United States any and all property, real or personal, constituting, or derived
from, proceeds traceable to the violation of the offense set forth in this
Information.
50. If by any act or omission of the defendant, any of the properly subject
the United States will be entitled to forfeiture of substitute property up to the value
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of the properfy described above in paragraph g,pursuant to Title 21, United States
District ofHawaii
KENNETH MoSORENSON
MICAH SMITH
MICHAEL F.ALBANESE
Assistant UoS.Attorneys
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