Another Former Honda Executive Charged in Scandal Pleads Guilty

A former top sales executive for American Honda Motor Co. pleaded guilty Monday to racketeering charges in the federal government’s ongoing probe of a bribery and kickback scandal that has rocked the Torrance-based importer and distributor of Honda cars.

David L. Pederson of Roswell, Ga., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Concord, N.H., to one count of obstruction of justice and one count of violating the Racketeer and Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Pederson, 45, admitted accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from dealers seeking lucrative franchises for Honda’s Acura luxury car line in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Georgia and Florida.

He is the 12th of 15 former American Honda sales executives charged with felonies in the case to plead guilty.

Trial is set to begin Nov. 1 in Concord for the remaining defendants, including a Laguna Hills man, Stanley James Cardiges.

Cardiges, American Honda’s senior vice president for sales until he resigned in 1992, has denied wrongdoing. He is charged with racketeering, mail and wire fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Connolly in New Hampshire said Monday that the case is open and ongoing and that his office expects to bring additional charges against new defendants in coming months.

Pederson was a sales executive with American Honda in from June, 1979, through June, 1992, and was a zone sales manager for the Acura division from 1989 through 1992.