As expected, Lavern Joseph became the third defendant in the Caspino cockfight gambling case to plead guilty as part of a plea deal with prosecutor.

She entered a plea of guilty to a single charge of “conspiracy to conduct, finance, manage, supervise, direct, and own an illegal gambling business.” The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

In exchange, prosecutors dropped a second gambling charge contained in the original indictment. Prosecutors also agreed to recommend a 2-level departure from federal sentencing guidelines for acceptance of responsibility and an additional 1-level for entering a plea in a timely manner that avoids the cost of a trial.

Joseph admitted, in essence, that she had served as a front to hide the role of her older son, Edward Caspino, who controlled the 10-acre Waianae property purchased in June 2020 and begab host the chicken fight derbies at the site regularly attended by hundreds.

Although title to the property showed it had been purchased by Joseph and her other son, William Caspino, in fact the money for the initial purchase, and ongoing payments, were provided by the Caspino brothers.

Joseph “used funds provided by Edward Caspino, William Caspino, or both, to write checks
(both cashier’s checks and personal checks) to make the monthly payments for the property,” according to the plea agreement.

Joseph acknowledged she was aware of the illegal gambling and chicken fighting, and that “her role was to make the monthly payments for 87-881 Iliili Road using funds provided by Edward Caspino and William Caspino.”

Joseph’s is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5, and will remain free on bond until then.

Edward Caspino is scheduled to be sentenced on April 7. His brother, William Castino, is expected to plead guilty on Monday.

The Caspino and Joseph plea agreements do not require then to cooperate with the the government, share information with law enforcement, or testify in grand jury or other proceedings.