Federal grand jury indicts 37 on drug trafficking charges, 22 arrested
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and Honolulu police today arrested 22 of 37 people indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
Of those arrested, 18 made initial appearances or were arraigned this afternoon in federal court in Honolulu before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Puglisi.
The indictments allege 150 methamphetamine trafficking offenses from July 2014 and November 2016, and five firearms offenses.
Four people were arrested today in connection with the case in California, where two are in state custody and have been charged.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Honolulu Police Department were involved in a joint investigation that led to the arrest and charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Roberts and Marion Percell appeared in court for the government.
9 responses to “Federal grand jury indicts 37 on drug trafficking charges, 22 arrested”
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I am surprised we did not shoot them like the president of the Philippines did in his country.
Nah that would be a waste of bullets. Since these people like dealing meth so much they should just force these dealers to take all the drugs they tried to distribute.
We don’t shoot them because this is not the Philippines and we don’t live in a cannibal society. But making them smoke all their drugs at once does sound like a good idea.
Good news!
“The indictments allege 150 methamphetamine trafficking offenses from July 2014 and November 2016, and five firearms offenses” – In the 2-1/2 years before they were arrested, they were selling meth to people in Hawaii.
Now is it better to keep investigating for 2-1/2 years (I guess it is to try to get the entire gang), or is it better to arrest dealers as they are found out? My thought is that when they find out about dealers, they should arrest them immediately and then use them as possible witnesses to get the higher ups. That way, no more people are getting meth from them. And, it will have discouraged other dealers from moving into Hawaii.
Also, after 2-1/2 years, they still haven’t arrested all of the culprits. 22 out of 37 is just barely 60% of the total indicted. Why?
Maybe do a little research into large-scale law enforcement operations before you judge the actions taken by these top-tier agencies (and yes, that EXCLUDES HPD). Operations of this size involve unimaginably sensitive details and requirements so as to wrap up an airtight case; rush things and any good defense attorney will tear the case apart and all the work was for naught. Just look at the sheer number of dealers involved and/or arrested today. Do you really think you can “immediately” arrest and “flip” a dozen or two dozen hardened dealers and the word NOT get out that the feds are stacking up informants?
To put it in terms you might be more familiar with, did you watch all of “The Sopranos”? Do you remember when the rogue city District Attorney arrests and tries to indict Tony on petty weapons charges, and then the U.S. Attorney comes in and tears the DA a new okole hole for jeopardizing his five year investigation for what he called a “mouse f@rt” case?
There’s a reason that major organized crime arrests come in large sweeps. You simply cannot arrest and indict these guys one by one–word will get out and the rest will run–and it is more efficient, effective and strategic to take down the entire operation at once…and that takes time. Time to build your case, time to plan, time to execute and then hand the prosecution a solid case. Unless it involves an imminent attack on our nation, agencies like the FBI are masters at doing exactly that and we should respect what they do and let them do what folks like us are neither capable nor brave enough to accomplish on our own.
I respect the process and hope the courts hand these animals the harshest sentences possible, but I personally think there are three groups of people that deserve to be castrated/sterilized and/or banished to isolated islands far away that the government can use for drone strike practice:
1) People who disrespect our nation, flag, constitution or military.
2) People who hurt dogs.
3) Meth dealers.
Obviously, serial killers and rapists and terrorists all fall into the “throw them off the Pali” category, but those above three groups inspire a special breed of disgust in me. Glad to see none of the law enforcement personnel were injured in today’s operation.
I haven’t got a shred of sympathy for these lowlifes. Only those of us who have witnessed the destruction of a loved one, as well as the family, will ever be able to fully appreciate this sentiment. Capital Punishment is even too lenient as a punishment for these drug trafficking crimes. If only society could extract the same pain and suffering these people peddle, our society would be much better off for it as a deterrent. I make no apologies for my opinion.
Sorry for your loved ones and your family, but you must have been in a better position than “society” to help them. No?