HONOLULU — A former Honolulu Police Department officer and a second man have been charged in federal court with extortion and selling stolen vehicles.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports Roddy Tsunezumi and Jeremy Javillo were charged in documents filed Wednesday.
Federal prosecutors say Tsunezumi committed the crimes while employed by the police department.
Police spokeswoman Michelle Yu says Tsunezumi “separated” from the department in April after nine years but would not say why.
Tsunezumi’s lawyer Megan Kau declined comment. It’s not clear if Javillo has a lawyer.
Prosecutors say Tsunezumi and Javillo between June and October 2013 tried to extort $15,000 from two owners of a Honolulu hostess bar.
They’re also charged with conspiring to buy salvaged vehicles, stealing similar models and switching vehicle identification numbers to resell the stolen vehicles.