A preliminary hearing for the 33-year-old man accused of an armed robbery spree last month, including the holdup of a Waipahu Tesoro gas station will be held in federal court on Nov. 20.

Kenneth Makanani was initially arrested by police Sunday for allegedly robbing the Tesoro gas station Oct. 30; the Pearl City Market Oct. 9; and the Roadrunner Liquor Store also on Oct. 9. In all three robberies, Makanani used a weapon, police said.

He was being held for investigation of three counts of first-degree robbery.

On Monday, Makanani’s case was transferred to federal authorities, and he was charged with three counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence. He is being held in the federal detention center.

Makanani will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang at 2 p.m. Nov. 20.

According to an FBI affidavit attached to the six-page criminal complaint filed in federal court Monday, Makanani robbed the Tesoro Gas Station at 94-050 Farrington Highway at 4 a.m. Oct. 30, taking $37 in cash and two packs of USA Gold cigarettes.

Makanani, who had taken off his yellow T-shirt and used it to cover his head and face, allegedly displayed a handgun and told the clerk to "open the register or I’ll shoot you in the head," the affidavit said. His fingerprints were found on the countertop in the gas station.

Makanani also was identified by a clerk who was working in the Pearl City Market on Oct. 9, according to the affidavit. Makanani allegedly showed a handgun, used a white T-shirt as a mask around his face and demanded that the clerk open the cash register. The suspect got away with $1,000 in cash.

After taking the cash, the suspect fled in a four-door white Honda with a piece of cardboard covering the license plate, the affidavit said.

Two hours later, Maka­nani robbed the Roadrunner Liquor Store at 94-266 Waipahu St., taking $200 in cash, according to the affidavit. Makanani allegedly used a black T-shirt to cover his face and pointed a gun at the cashier, saying, "Give me all the money," two or three times.

In both the Pearl City market and Waipahu liquor robberies, store surveillance videotapes helped police identify the suspect.