Courtroom clogged by meth-case defendants, supporters

Eighteen people pleaded not guilty Tuesday in connection with last week’s Kuhio Park housing drug sting — among the largest number of defendants to appear in Honolulu federal court in a case at once in recent years.

Facing felony drug charges after being arrested Thursday, some of the 18 defendants were granted bail while others remain in custody. Federal Magistrate Kevin Chang scheduled trial dates for February, but prosecutors said trials dates will likely be reset, partly because of the crimes’ complexity. Some of the defendants will be tried together, while others will be tried individually.

A federal grand jury last week handed down six indictments charging 37 defendants with drug felonies and firearm offenses as the result of a joint investigation by the FBI, Honolulu Police Department and federal Homeland Security Department.

The 18 who appeared in court were among 22 arrested Thursday in raids in Hawaii and California.

Among those in court, 43-year-old Laauli Amani is charged with 61 counts, including conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and the distribution or dispensing of crystal methamphetamine, according to an unsealed indictment.

The indictments cited 105 drug trafficking offenses from July 2014 to November, and five firearm offenses.

The federal courtroom was bursting at its seams Tuesday as relatives and supporters of the 18 defendants tried to find seats, and more than 60 were turned away because of the lack of space.

“I feel really disappointed,” said Lillian Jones, a family friend of one of the defendants, Robert Paga. Jones said she felt she and others who had taken the time to attend a hearing were being kept away from witnessing the judicial proceeding.

Many of those outside the courtroom were from Kuhio Park housing.

The 18 defendants range in age from 22 to 65 and include residents of Honolulu, Ewa Beach, Kaneohe, Aiea and Mililani.