Hawaiian man jailed for facilitating online gambling

A federal judge in Hawaii sentenced a local man to a year and eight months in prison this week for running an illegal online gambling business.

The Associated Press news agency reported from Honolulu Friday that U.S. District Court Judge Leslie Kobayashi sentenced 45-year-old Eric Ford, who pleaded guilty and has already forfeited nearly $130,000 in cash, a Rolex watch and a vehicle.

Ford pleaded guilty in February to the gambling charge and to structuring financial transactions so they wouldn’t be reported to the federal government.

U.S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni told the court that Ford operated the gambling business out of Aloha Springs Water Company in Kailua-Kona, taking sports bets online and over the phone, and collecting gambling debts.

Prosecutors say seven others have also pleaded guilty to charges arising from the case.