Kalihi man sentenced to over 9 years for game room robbery

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A Kalihi man who robbed an illegal game room at gunpoint was sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison.

On Monday, a federal judge sentenced Chris Pham to 111 months in prison for Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during the commission of the robbery, followed by five years of supervised release.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that as part of a plea agreement, on Dec. 27, 2024, Pham robbed $3,000 from an illegal game room in Honolulu, brandished a firearm at operators and patrons and threatened to shoot anyone who moved.

Court documents said Pham later admitted to displaying a loaded privately made ghost gun during the robbery.

“This sentence reflects the serious threat posed by violent offenders who choose to arm themselves while engaging in criminal activity,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Tom Ryan. “The defendant’s actions related to robbery and illegal firearm possession demonstrated a clear disregard for the safety of our community.”

Pham has been in federal custody since March of last year in possession of a separate firearm and ammunition.

“Illegal game rooms are a hotbed of violence and criminal activity, attracting people like Chris Pham who see them as cash-rich targets for armed robbery,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “In coordination with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to dismantle and disrupt illegal game rooms on the islands and prosecute any criminal activity we find associated with them.”