HONOLULU (KHON2) — A jury found Paul Joseph Sulla, Jr., 78, Gary CharlesZamber, 55, and Rajesh P. Budhabhatti, 65, guilty of multiple counts of wire fraud on June 4. Sulla was additionally convicted of money laundering.
According to court documents, Sulla and Zamber, both attorneys living on the Big Island, and Budhabhatti, a private businessman on the Big Island, paid bribes and kickbacks to Alan Rudo, a housing specialist for the Hawaiʻi County Office of Housing and Community Development.
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In exchange for payment, Rudo would use his official position to ensure the County approved three affordable housing agreements.
Today’s verdict reiterates our unwavering message to those who bribe and attempt to buy the discretion of Hawaiʻi’s public officials at the expense of the public’s trust and the integrity of our public institutions—you will be federally prosecuted and brought to justice. Our office will continue to root out and vigorously pursue those who engage in public corruption or who violate their positions of public trust.
Ken Sorenson, Acting United States Attorney
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Sulla and Zamber could both face up to 20 years in prison, while Budhabhatti could face up to 10 years in prison…