California man found guilty of trying to smuggle crystal meth

A federal jury found a 44-year-old California man guilty Monday of attempting to smuggle almost three pounds of cystal methamphetamine to Kauai.

U.S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni said Roman Contreras flew from Los Angeles to Lihue on May 24 under a false name, with three plastic containers filled with crystal methamphetamine hidden in his baggage.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents discovered the drugs while executing a search warrant on Contreras’ bags on March 25. Evidence showed that Contreras attempted to avoid police and DEA agents after he deplaned the flight from California.

Contreras has a prior conviction for promoting methamphetamine and now faces up to life in prison, with a mandatory 20-year term of imprisonment when he is sentenced on Oct. 21.