A 32-year-old Molokai man pleaded guilty this week to embezzling $218,293 from the Molokai Community Federal Credit Union where he worked as a teller.

Daniel K. Mahiai pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of of embezzlement and faces a maximum 30 years in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Ezra on Feb. 16. He also faces a fine of up to $1 million and must pay $168,180 in restitution.

Mahiai, 32, remains free on $50,000 bond.

A federal grand jury indicted Mahiai June 30 on five counts of embezzlement. He was accused of stealing $218,293 from the credit union by removing the funds from his teller's drawer and replacing $55,982 before the thefts were discovered, the U.S. attorney's office said.

The U.S. attorney's office said Mahiai covered up his conduct by making false entries in various credit union accounts to make it appear that customers were making withdrawals. He also placed some accounts on "no mail" status, which the U.S. attorney's office said prevented the credit union from sending the members statements reflecting the withdrawals .

When a customer made a transaction, prosecutors said, Mahiai made entries reflecting deposits in the amounts taken that falsely inflated the balances. The U.S. attorney's office said Mahiai's scheme began in January 2005 and ended in February 2008.

Assistant Federal Public Defender Matthew Winter declined to comment on specifics of the case.

"Mr. Mahiai accepts full responsibility for his actions in this case and wants to make amends to all who were involved," Winter said.

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Tong.