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.
22 responses to “Courtroom clogged by meth-case defendants, supporters”
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Public housing is infested with subhumans.
At this point, does anyone have faith in our prosecutors office to successfully prosecute these cases?
It’s a Federal case, Peanut. Feds will not take a case this far if they don’t feel they’ll be able to successfully prosecute.
Very accurate comment. I was once advised by a prominent local defense attorney that when defending a client in a federal case he would most often look for a plea deal because winning in federal court was extremely difficult.
Good, about time someone, the Feds, cleaning up the housing drug problems.
Send these guys to Duterte
Crystal meth(ice) is a very dangerous and costly drug. Anyone caught selling and using them should be exterminated, they have no place in our society. Ice will cause the rise in health care cost from the rise in iced induced cardiomyopathy and iced induced schizophrenia. Users who will come up with these illness will be a burden to THE REAL TAX PAYERS. Exterminate both of these–the users and the sellers, they are both low lifes that don’t deserve the same air as those who are paying the taxes.
I feel really disappointed,” said Lillian Jones
You are there to support someone who deals with drugs, that get sold to children? Shame on you…..
Surprised story doesn’t mention that penalty increases for dealing near school, as Linapuni Elementary is right across KPT.
Lucky they live in America and not PI. At least they will have their day in court.
Send them to the PI, they will love their fate there. I wish we can do the same for ice users and sellers as well.
Two things I know:
1. Hawaii criminals tend to be pretty stupid.
2. The Feds take their time when investigating cases. They make sure every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed before they move in for arrests.
This was a major operation. The only criminals getting off from these charges are the ones who could produce a much bigger ‘fish’ for the Feds who they didn’t know about previously.
Looking at the names on the defendant list, we’re lucky half of Pago Pago wasn’t at the courthouse.
Also amazing there were no fist-fights outside the courthouse. Maybe the feds were smart and had a free kava booth in the parking lot.
Racist much?
it is what it is
How come they didn’t print the names of these people.
The word ‘supporters’ should have been changed to ‘enablers,’ because that’s just what they are. Unless they’re also ‘customers.’
Oh, Boo Hoo.
That’s right…the people from housing is all about THEIR RIGHTS! What they are entitled to and their perception of what right is and how society needs to take care of THEM.
Yeah, this article makes it sound like it’s the government’s fault for not having enough seating for cockroaches to support their meth friends. Maybe we should build a court house on KPT grounds to make it easier for these poor people. Oops, dropped my tiny violin!
LOL. Hope your violin is okay and you can use it for other whiners.
Throw all of them in jail