Two Accused Of Lying About Ability To Bring Carrier Out Of Bankruptcy

They lied. One tried to bribe an undercover Fed. Both are in very hot water.

That's the word from the US Attorney's Office in New York's Southern District about Paul Boghosian and William Spencer. Both have been indicted on conspiracy charges in connection with their bid to bring Hawaiian Airlines out of bankruptcy.

Boghosian leads Hawaiian Investment Partners Group, a company he formed to save Hawaiian Air. Spencer is a trustee at E&M Trust. The government says both men lied about their ability to bring Hawaiian Air out of bankruptcy with a $300 million cash infusion.

Boghosian is also accused of trying to bribe an undercover FBI agent posing as a hedge fund manager. The indictment says Boghosian agreed to pay the agent $500,000 in return for a $2.5 million loan.

There was no immediate comment from the beleaguered airline. Hawaiian Airlines filed for bankruptcy two years ago. The court last month accepted a plan designed to return Hawaiian Airlines to solvency.

FMI: www.hawaiianair.com