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State officials allege that an Oahu pig farmer ran a phony loan program that bilked one investor out of more than $100,000, and are asking the public for help if they have information about the scheme.
The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs alleges that Patrick J. O’Sullivan enticed an investor to give him $250,000 that he said would be invested with his accountant in a loan program that included lending money to Walter Dods, former chairman of First Hawaiian Bank, to build a plaza in China.
O’Sullivan’s so-called "industrial loan program" promised high returns, but the state said the pig farmer spent much of the investment money on personal expenses, including trips to mainland casinos.
The state said one investor gave O’Sullivan $250,000 in 2004 and 2005 and received a "return" of $116,410 that actually was part of the investor’s initial investment.
"In fact there was no loan program," the state said in a preliminary order for O’Sullivan to cease such activity.
The order seeks a civil penalty of $100,000 in addition to restitution for investors. O’Sullivan is entitled to a hearing.
Anyone who has had dealings with O’Sullivan pertaining to the investment scheme is urged to contact DCCA’s Securities Enforcement Branch at seb@dcca.hawaii.gov via email or by phone on Oahu at 586-2740 followed by 62740#.
The branch can also be reached from the neighbor islands at 274-3141 on Kauai, 984-2400 on Maui, 974-4000 on Hawaii island and 800-468-4644 (toll-free) on Molokai and Lanai, followed by the same 62740# extension.