Federal prison probe seeks answers on contraband

The FBI is conducting an investigation into the smuggling of contraband into the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu after two state inmates admitted receiving tobacco and marijuana there, said federal prosecutor Jonathan Loo.

Loo made those statements during the sentencing Monday of Bradley Souza for possessing tobacco and marijuana at the detention facility last December and attempting to possess more tobacco and marijuana in February.

Souza was sentenced to 15 months in prison. His lawyer, Jeffrey Arakaki, said he might ask for a reduction in the sentence if the information Souza provided investigators proves valuable.

At the time he committed the contraband offenses, Souza was serving state prison sentences for abuse of a family or household member and second-degree theft. He completed his state sentences in April.

Another former state inmate, Dayven Joseph, was sentenced to two years in federal prison last month for possessing and providing the contraband to Souza last December and attempting to possess more tobacco and marijuana in February. He was serving time at the Federal Detention Center for state convictions on second- and third-degree sexual assault. He completed his state sentences in May.

Federal prison officials found the contraband hidden in slippers Joseph was wearing after a family visit in February. The slippers were not of the kind available to inmates at the facility.

Officials later found another pair of slippers in Joseph’s possession that had been altered in the same way as the other pair but did not contain contraband.

Joseph admitted receiving contraband and providing some to Souza.

Loo said Souza admitted sending $100 to one of Joseph’s family members to pay for the tobacco and marijuana.

The state routinely rents space at the federal prison near the airport when state prisons are at capacity.