.png)
8 months ago
19
A playboy model has been charged with bribery and obstruction of justice in Honolulu.
Shannon Teresa Marie Schwartz has been charged with one count of bribery of a public official and one count of obstruction of justice after allegedly offering to pay a federal agent to convince a judge to let her boyfriend out on bail while he awaits trial on ammunition charges.
Schwartz allegedly offered $5,000 to a Homeland Security Investigations special agent in an effort to secure the supervised release of her boyfriend, Billy Wilhelm Huntzinger, from Honolulu's Federal Detention Center, according to a federal criminal complaint filed March 18.
Huntzinger is charged with being in possession of 205 rounds of Remington.223-caliber ammunition and close to $5,000 of crystal meth.
Honolulu police arrested Huntzinger on January 11 following a report that he was seen knocking on the door of a house with a gun tucked into his belt, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
Playboy model Shannon Teresa Marie Schwartz has been charged with one count of bribery of a public official and one count of obstruction of justice
Schwartz allegedly offered $5,000 to a Homeland Security Investigations special agent in an effort to secure the supervised release of her boyfriend
Billy Wilhelm Huntzinger is in Honolulu's Federal Detention Center while facing trial on drug and gun charges including possession of a 'ghost gun' and $5000 worth of crystal meth
During their raid police found an AR-15-style 'ghost gun' with no serial number or manufacturer, more than 200 rounds of ammunition, a grenade pin and around 115 grams of a white substance believed to be crystal meth as well as five grams of a substance believed to be cocaine.
The bribery allegations emerged after an HSI special agent claimed he received 'numerous missed calls, text messages and voicemails from Schwartz' on February 21, according to federal court records.
Schwartz allegedly told the agent she was referred to him by a 'high-profile inmate ' to 'handle a situation,' according to the documents.
She also allegedly asked to meet the agent in person so he could 'see she was serious and could pay him.'
'I can help with whatever you need $ not sure what your services cost...' she allegedly texted on February 22.
The agent told the U.S. attorney's office and his supervisors that same day triggering a formal investigation into Schwartz, the court documents state.
Schwartz continued to contact the official despite being told he could not help her.
Eventually the agent agreed to meet and texted Schwartz on March 1 that he needed to use his personal mobile phone to communicate with her but proceeded to use an under-cover government device.
The bribery allegations emerged after an HSI special agent claimed he received 'numerous missed calls, text messages and voicemails from Schwartz
Schwartz allegedly told the agent she was referred to him by a 'high-profile inmate ' to 'handle a situation'
The pair met at Starbucks on Nuuanu Avenue on March 5 where Schwartz allegedly offered to pay the agent $5,000 for his help.
She allegedly agreed to give the agent a 'good faith' payment upfront and the rest upon Huntzinger's release.
'Thank you so much. You don't know how important this is to me. I appreciate you,' she allegedly messaged the agent after the meet-up.
On March 7 the pair met again to make the first payment, $2,500 of cash concealed in a plastic cup, at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Hudspeth filed a motion opposing Huntzinger's request to be released ahead of trial.
However, Schwartz, who posed in a bikini on the December cover of Maxim New Zealand, is out on bail on a $25,000 unsecured bond.
English (US)