A Playboy model has been accused of trying to bribe a federal official at the Department of Homeland Security to persuade a judge to release her gun-toting boyfriend from a federal detention center in Honolulu.
According to a federal criminal complaint filed on March 18, Shannon Teresa Marie Schwartz was charged with one count of bribery of a public official and one count of obstruction of justice. Obtained by Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Schwartz offered $5,000 to an agent to persuade a judge to release her boyfriend, Wilhelm Louis Huntzinger, from federal custody after he was charged with being a felon in possession of 205 .223 Remington bullets. It is said that
In court documents, the agent, referred to as Daniel K., claims he received “numerous missed calls, text messages, and voicemails” from Schwartz on February 21st.
The Heart of Gold model, who posed in a bikini on the cover of Maxim New Zealand in December, told investigators she was someone who could “handle the situation” of a famous prisoner. “I was told that,” he is said to have said. ” the media reported, citing court documents.
Schwartz allegedly told agents he was trying to secure Hunzinger’s release and asked to meet with her so he could “make sure she was serious and could pay her money.”
Schwartz allegedly texted the agent on Feb. 22, saying, “I’ll help you with whatever you need. I don’t know the price for my services.”
Following this brazen investigation, Detective Daniel K. began a formal investigation into Schwartz.
Schwartz allegedly continued contacting the agent despite telling her that nothing could be done to secure her boyfriend’s release.
Agents finally agreed to meet with Schwartz on March 1, after he persisted in asking for help, but they had to continue communicating through his personal phone, a secret government device used to monitor conversations. he told the model.
During a meeting between Schwartz and her agent on March 5, she paid her agent, David K., $5,000 and asked him to take half of the $5,000 to get Huntzinger’s release from a judge who was a friend of hers. He allegedly offered to pay the other half to himself. According to the outlet, her boyfriend has been released.
Schwartz allegedly arranged a second meeting with agent David K. on March 7 at Inouye International Airport, where he handed the agent a white lunch bag containing a soda cup. The bag contained “25 $100 bills, totaling $2,500.”
After exchanging bribes, the model reportedly offered her agent, David K., more money to ensure that Huntzinger would not serve prison time after his release, according to the newspaper.
After the meeting, Mr. Schwartz was arrested and charged.
The U.S. Department of Justice requested that Schwartz be held without bail until his trial, but Judge Rom A. Trader denied the request, the paper said.
Schwartz was released on $25,000 unsecured bail on Monday, the outlet said.
She was also prohibited from communicating with Hunzinger.
If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison for bribing federal officials and up to one year for obstruction of justice, according to federal law.
According to the paper, Huntzinger was arrested on January 11th after Honolulu police arrested him in his car after receiving a report that he had been seen knocking on doors with a handgun in his belt. has been detained since.
Police said they found a “ghost gun” style AR-15 rifle with no serial number or manufacturer listed, and 205 rounds of ammunition. He had 136 rounds of ammunition in his five magazines, an empty Sig Sauer pistol magazine, a grenade pin, and 115 loaded rounds. According to the exit, one gram of a white substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine, five grams of a substance believed to be cocaine, and two scales.
In a motion opposing Mr. Hunzinger’s request for pretrial release, Special Assistant Attorney General Nicole Hudspeth said Mr. Schwartz was willing to make payments “to federal agents for the purpose of manipulating court actions.” Ta.
