WAILUKU — A man who ran unsuccessfully for Maui mayor has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for securities fraud.
Prosecutors say Nelson Waikiki convinced people to invest money in a Maui water rights company, but he didn’t have any rights to the water.
In a plea deal with prosecutors, he agreed to pay 21 victims more than 100,000 in restitution. He agreed to serve 10 years in prison if he didn’t pay.
Deputy Attorney General Albert Cook says Waikiki didn’t pay the money and didn’t show up to his original sentencing hearing in December. So a Maui judge on Friday imposed a 20-year sentence for four counts of securities fraud. Judge Rhonda Loo also ordered him to pay restitution.
Waikiki finished fourth of out six candidates in last year’s primary.