Mahealani Ventura, a Maui woman convicted nearly a decade ago for her role in a Hawaiian sovereignty-themed mortgage relief scam, will return to prison for another year, Chief Judge J. Michael Seabright ruled yesterday following a 37-minute hearing in Honolulu’s Federal District Court. See “Ko Hawaii Pae Aina defendant could face additional prison time“).

Ventura, 53, was convicted in 2013 following an 11-day jury trial and sentenced to 78 months in federal prison. Two others, including her then-estranged husband, John David Oliver, pleaded guilty, and Oliver testified against his wife at the trial. The couple was divorced in September 2017, while Ventura was still serving her sentence. A fourth woman stood trial with Ventura and was also convicted.

Ventura was arrested April 12, just three months before she would have completed the full three years of supervised release that followed her release from federal custody in July 2019. After her arrest, she admitted to eight violations of the conditions of her release, and she admitted to an additional violation during Monday’s hearing.

According to minutes of the hearing:

Court finds that Defendant has violated her conditions of supervised release. Supervised release is revoked.

ADJUDGED:

Imprisonment: TWELVE (12) MONTHS, as to Counts 1 through 18 and 25, to be served concurrently.

Supervised Release: TWENTY-FOUR (24) MONTHS, as to Counts 1 through 18 and 25, to be served concurrently.

In addition to the year in custody, Seabright’s order included 20 special conditions that will apply to the additional two-year term of supervised release.

Among other things, Ventura will be required to find full time work or do similar community service, maintain a single bank account, close all credit card accounts opened without permission during the first period of supervised release, and obtain prior approval from her federal probation officer before opening any additional accounts.

In addition, Condition #16 prohibits Ventura living in a home on Haiki Place in Wailuku, “until such time the Probation Office determines that you do not have a financial and/or fee interest in the property,” and she is further prohibited from receiving any rental income from the property, directly or indirectly through a third party person or entity.

The property had been owned by Ventura and her then-husband, John Oliver, but was transferred several times through apparent straw buyers, ending up in 2009 with title in the name of “One Part And International Monetary Fund” at a Washington, DC address, with Ventura as designated beneficiary.

Seabright recommended she serve the additional 12-month term in Honolulu’s Federal Detention Center.

Ventura was advised that she has the right to appeal Seabright’s decision. There is no indication at this time whether she will pursue an appeal.