Question: Whatever happened to Herbert Naone, the former Aloha Stadium security chief who was convicted of extorting nightclubs?
Answer: Naone, 62, was released from federal prison on June 17 after serving about 14 months, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.
He could not be reached for comment. A call to the attorney who represented him during his criminal case was not returned Wednesday night.
Naone pleaded guilty to extorting two nightclubs in 2004 and 2005. He admitted taking cash in exchange for information about upcoming inspections by the Honolulu Liquor Commission, allowing the clubs to operate with violations, and threatening to send liquor commission inspectors to shut down the clubs.
He worked with James Rodenhurst, a liquor commission investigator and shift supervisor at the time. Rodenhurst was sentenced to 17 months in federal prison and completed that sentence.
Naone was head of Aloha Stadium security while he committed the criminal activity. He held the chief position for 18 years before retiring in 2006 after he was indicted in the federal case.
According to FBI wiretap affidavits, Naone sometimes used his work phone to talk with Rodenhurst about criminal activities. The court documents said that he once arranged to meet Rodenhurst at Aloha Stadium to split $1,600 in extortion payments from Corey Kaowili Jr., owner of Volcanoes Night Club and Sin City bar.
According to the plea agreement, Naone called someone at Volcanoes Night Club in June 2004 and told them they could not serve liquor that night. He said that the liquor commission had received an anonymous complaint about the club, according to Rodenhurst, and warned them that they were subject to a liquor inspection.
In October 2004, Naone called Rodenhurst and said Sin City would “go renegade” that weekend, meaning the bar would serve liquor beyond the time allowed by its liquor license. Rodenhurst responded, “Tell ’em to send money down,” court documents said.
Naone was sentenced in September 2009 to 16 months in prison, fined $10,000 and ordered to serve three years on supervised release.
U.S. District Judge David Ezra allowed Naone to delay the start of his sentence for several months because he was scheduled for treatment of skin cancer.
According to court documents, Naone turned himself in to federal authorities on April 20, 2010.
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This update was written by Rob Shikina. Suggest a topic for “Whatever Happened To …” by writing Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210, Honolulu 96813; call 529-4747; or email cityeditors@staradvertiser.com.
