District of Hawaii
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Dual U.S. and Canadian Citizen and Alleged Repeat Child Sexual Predator Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Child in HawaiiRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Donald Steven Lang, 62, was arrested this weekend in Canada at the request of the United States following his earlier indictment in Hawaii for sexual exploitation of a child.
According to court documents, Lang produced images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Lang allegedly produced the images between September 2024 and December 2024 aboard his 52-foot sailboat, the Ishi. Lang is an amateur sailor who is known to sail around the world and frequently harbored in Hawaii.
“Protecting children from sexual predators is a priority of the highest order,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We will continue to pursue this alleged offender and work with our law enforcement partners to return him to the United States to face trial for the crimes he is charged with committing.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is unwavering in our commitment to protecting Hawaii’s children and bringing to justice anyone preying upon them,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “I commend the continued dedication and great work of FBI and our Canadian law enforcement partners for apprehending Mr. Lang quickly and safely so that he can face justice in U.S. District Court in Hawaii for his alleged crimes.”
“The FBI remains committed to identifying, investigating, and bringing offenders to justice who prey on some of the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said FBI Criminal Assistant Director Heith Janke. “Donald Lang has been accused by multiple victims of committing sexual abuse of a minor. Lang’s apprehension was the direct result of the collaboration of the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Pacific Region.”
Lang was previously indicted on separate charges of child sexual abuse in Idaho related to his involvement in the sexual assault of a minor between 2003 and 2007.
If convicted, Lang faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. He also faces a penalty of between five years of supervised release and lifetime supervised release, along with a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine a sentence upon conviction after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
FBI Honolulu is investigating the case. Lang's apprehension was the direct result of the cooperation of the FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)'s Tofino General Duty, Island District GIS, Nanaimo Detachment, and Island District ERT. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in securing the apprehension.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker for the District of Hawaii and Trial Attorney Eduardo Palomo of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information regarding this case may contact the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office at (808) 426-2534, the FBI’s Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Anyone with information about this case may also contact their local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or they can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dual U.S. and Canadian Citizen and Alleged Repeat Child Sexual Predator Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Child in HawaiiRead the Press Release
Note: See the indictment here.
A man was arrested this weekend in Canada at the request of the United States following his earlier indictment in Hawaii for sexual exploitation of a child.
According to court documents, Donald Steven Lang, 62, produced images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Lang allegedly produced the images between September 2024 and December 2024 aboard his 52-foot sailboat, the Ishi. Lang is an amateur sailor who is known to sail around the world and frequently harbored in Hawaii.
“Protecting children from sexual predators is a priority of the highest order,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We will continue to pursue this alleged offender and work with our law enforcement partners to return him to the United States to face trial for the crimes he is charged with committing.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is unwavering in our commitment to protecting Hawaii’s children and bringing to justice anyone preying upon them,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “I commend the continued dedication and great work of FBI and our Canadian law enforcement partners for apprehending Mr. Lang quickly and safely so that he can face justice in U.S. District Court in Hawaii for his alleged crimes.”
“The FBI remains committed to identifying, investigating, and bringing offenders to justice who prey on some of the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said FBI Criminal Assistant Director Heith Janke. “Donald Lang has been accused by multiple victims of committing sexual abuse of a minor. Lang’s apprehension was the direct result of the collaboration of the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Pacific Region.”
Lang was previously indicted on separate charges of child sexual abuse in Idaho related to his involvement in the sexual assault of a minor between 2003 and 2007.
If convicted, Lang faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. He also faces a penalty of between five years of supervised release and lifetime supervised release, along with a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine a sentence upon conviction after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
FBI Honolulu is investigating the case. Lang's apprehension was the direct result of the cooperation of the FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)'s Tofino General Duty, Island District GIS, Nanaimo Detachment, and Island District ERT. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in securing the apprehension.
Trial Attorney Eduardo Palomo of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information regarding this case may contact the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office at (808) 426-2534, the FBI’s Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Anyone with information about this case may also contact their local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or they can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Oahu Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Kill Governor of MichiganRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Ronald Saville, 49, of Honolulu, pleaded guilty on August 18, 2026, to one count of sending interstate communications containing threats.
As admitted in the plea agreement, on May 9, 2026, Saville emailed the Michigan State Police identifying himself, referencing the state capitol building in Lansing, Michigan, and stating that he was “going to walk in with a gun at A.R. 15 and open fire and kill as many people as possible. I mean what I say I’m not a joke.” A short while later, Saville sent a second email to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer stating, “just to let you know on Tuesday second, Lancy, Michigan is never gonna be the same again going to walk into the state capital shoot it up and kill as many people as possible than that I’m coming for you[.]”
Saville called the FBI on May 12, 2026, and told an FBI agent that he wanted to kill Governor Whitmer because of her political affiliation, that he had been conducting online research to plan a trip to Michigan to carry out his threat, and that he still intended to carry out his threat. On May 26, investigators located Saville in Kailua, and Saville admitted to sending the emails, stating that he wanted to be taken seriously and be noticed. Saville added that he intended to scare and threaten Governor Whitmer.
Saville was previously convicted twice in federal court in the District of Hawaii and was sentenced in 2008 for making threats toward former United States President George W. Bush and in 2013 for making threats toward former United States District Judge Susan Oki Mollway.
Saville faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release.
FBI investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner is prosecuting the case.
Ken Sorenson Takes Oath as Senate-Confirmed United States Attorney for the District of HawaiiRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Ken Sorenson took the oath of office as the United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii on August 18, 2026, following his confirmation by the United States Senate and the signing of his commission by the President.
Before his confirmation, United States Attorney Sorenson served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for 39 years, including 30 years in Hawaii, leading investigations and prosecutions into notable espionage, public corruption, murder, racketeering, drug trafficking, complex fraud, terrorism, and environmental cases. He began serving as Hawaii’s Acting United States Attorney in January 2025 and was appointed by the United States District Court in March 2026 to continue to serve as Hawaii’s United States Attorney pending his confirmation before the United States Senate.
“It was an honor and privilege to serve the people of Hawaii as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for three decades. To be selected to continue to lead the federal law enforcement community as Hawaii’s chief federal law enforcement official is a mandate and mission I embrace,” said United States Attorney Ken Sorenson. “While the Office I lead is small in numbers, we are proud of the overwhelming positive influence we exert every day to promote the safety and welfare of Hawaii’s citizens by taking violent criminals, child predators, drug traffickers, fraudsters, spies, racketeers, corrupt public officials, and other criminals off of the streets. I pledge to continue to aggressively protect Hawaii with the outstanding assistance of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and the exceptional Assistant U.S. Attorneys and staff in my office, whose skill, dedication, and commitment to public service make our good work possible every day.”
Georgia Man Charged with Threatening to Kill Husband of Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi GabbardRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Nolan Ezra Goldklang, 23, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, was charged by criminal complaint on August 5, 2026, with sending an interstate communication containing a threat to kill the husband of Tulsi Gabbard, the former Director of National Intelligence. Goldklang was arrested on August 7, 2026 on Oahu, and had his initial appearance on August 10, 2026, in the District of Hawaii.
According to court records, on or about July 21, 2026, using a computer in or near Kapolei, Hawaii, Goldklang posted threatening statements directed at Ms. Gabbard’s husband on the social media platform “X.” Goldklang posted that he was “going to murder” Ms. Gabbard’s husband when he returned to Oahu and was going to “slam his bloody face on the pavement until his skull cracks.” Goldklang’s family reported the post to law enforcement and informed investigators that Goldklang was obsessed and infatuated with Gabbard. His family also reported that Goldklang had experienced mental health issues and had previously escaped from a mental institution where he had been involuntarily committed. His family believed Goldklang may have traveled from the mainland to Hawaii to meet with Gabbard.
If convicted, Goldklang faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, plus a term of supervised release.
The charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph J. St. Clair is prosecuting the case.
Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for Falsely Posing as a Commercial Airline PilotRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Dallas Pokornik, 34, of Toronto, Canada, pled guilty yesterday in federal court to wire fraud. After his indictment in October 2025, Pokornik was arrested in Panama and extradited to the United States to face his charges here in the District of Hawaii.
According to court documents, Pokornik, a former flight attendant for a commercial airline in Canada, admitted to falsely posing as a commercial pilot to get hundreds of free flights on three different airlines. During the scheme, which spanned from January 2020 to October 28, 2024, Pokornik used a fictitious employee identification card to obtain the free flights. As part of his plea agreement, Pokornik agreed to pay restitution to the three victim airlines, which are all based in the United States.
“Travel security protocols help keep our citizens and visitors safe, and anyone who breaches those protocols should expect to be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We thank our law enforcement partners at Homeland Security Investigations and abroad for helping us hold this fraudster accountable.”“Dallas Pokornik’s guilty plea is a testament to the seamless collaboration between HSI Honolulu, the Department of Justice, and our international law enforcement partners. This individual took advantage of travel security protocols for his own benefit, and he will now face the consequences of his actions,” said CJ Ammons, Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge.
Pokornik’s sentencing hearing is set for December 8, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park. Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Nammar is prosecuting the case.
Maui Police Department Lieutenant Charged with Taking Bribes from Criminals to Protect Chicken Fighting and Drug Operations on MauiRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced today that Michael Vaituulala, 53, a lieutenant with the Maui Police Department (MPD), was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
According to the criminal complaint, Vaituulala used his position as a lieutenant in the Maui Police Department for personal gain over many years. Vaituulala accepted regular cash payments from individuals organizing illegal chicken fights in exchange for using his official position to ensure that MPD did not enforce animal fighting laws against those individuals. Vaituulala and others met with organizers of the chicken fights to discuss logistics and conditions for holding the fights, with Vaituulala providing his approval for the organizers to open a chicken fighting location and the days on which fights could take place.Vaituulala also protected individuals engaged in drug trafficking and improperly shared confidential law enforcement information with them in exchange for cash payments. The information he shared included the identities of confidential sources, evidence photos, the existence of a sealed federal wiretap, the existence of a sealed arrest warrant, and details regarding the subjects and targets of ongoing federal investigations. According to one cooperator, Vaituulala aspired to become the “Larry Mehau” of Maui – a reference to a former Big Island police officer long alleged to have served as the godfather of organized crime in Hawaii.
“It is deeply troubling that a long-tenured and trusted law enforcement officer who swore to serve the people of Maui County faces these allegations, which involve a complete betrayal of his oath of service. Hawaii’s law enforcement officers are critical to the safety and security of our local communities, and nearly always perform with honesty, integrity, and valor,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “But on those occasions when one of them elects to betray their commitment to Hawaii and violate the law, or protect the very criminals they are charged to investigate, we will vigorously pursue and prosecute them to the fullest extent permissible under the law.” Sorenson added, “We acknowledge and thank the leadership of the Maui Police Department for its assistance and cooperation with federal enforcement operations this week.”
“As law enforcement officers, we all swear an oath to protect and serve our communities,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “The overwhelming majority of law enforcement works honorably every day to meet that responsibility. But when an officer violates that oath—breaching the trust contract with their community—they betray the very people they were entrusted to serve and the brave men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line each day. This investigation reflects the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protect the public and uphold the integrity of law enforcement, and we will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure that those who misuse their positions of authority are held fully accountable under the law. Additionally, we appreciate the leadership of the Maui Police Department for its cooperation and assistance with our enforcement operations this week, and we value our shared commitment to protecting the community and upholding the highest standards of law enforcement.”
If convicted, Vaituulala faces up to twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release.
The charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeannette Graviss and Michael Nammar are prosecuting the case.
Kapolei Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft in Connection with Unemployment Insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Relief Program FraudRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Phoebe Trinh, also known as Phuong Trinh Ngoc Vo, 33, of Kapolei, Hawaii, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park to 24 months in prison followed by 6 months of supervised release for aggravated identity theft. Trinh was also ordered to forfeit $36,265 and pay $78,474 in restitution. Trinh pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement in April 2026.
In 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) unemployment insurance program to provide emergency unemployment payments to certain workers whose livelihoods were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic but who were ineligible for traditional state unemployment insurance benefits, such as business owners, self-employed workers, independent contractors, and those with a limited work history who were out of business or had significantly reduced their services as a direct result of the pandemic. To obtain either traditional unemployment insurance (UI) or PUA UI benefit payments, claimants could submit a claim online. If approved, the U.S. Treasury typically deposited payments every week into a claimant’s bank account. To continue to receive benefit payments, claimants were required to certify on a weekly basis under penalty of law that they remained unemployed or partially employed, and eligible to receive benefit payments.
According to court documents, Trinh admitted that between May 19, 2020 and October 20, 2020, she submitted a false claim online for UI benefit payments for herself, and then repeatedly falsely certified under penalty of law that she was unemployed and not receiving income, despite knowing that her certifications were false, in order to receive benefit payments that she was not entitled to receive.
Trinh then submitted a false claim for PUA UI benefit payments for another individual, who was an employee of her family’s restaurant in Kapolei, Hawaii. Trinh used that individual’s personal identifiable information, including his name and social security number, without that individual’s knowledge and consent, in order to obtain additional benefit payments to which Trinh was not entitled. On May 19, 2020, and on multiple other occasions, Trinh then certified that the individual remained eligible for PUA UI benefit payments in order to receive his benefit payments, without the individual’s knowledge and consent. Trinh then directed those benefit payments intended for the individual to be transferred to her own bank account.
According to court documents, Trinh fraudulently obtained at least $36,265 in unemployment insurance and PUA UI benefits to which she was not entitled.
“Motivated by greed, Trinh defrauded the government to obtain critical resources intended to provide a lifeline to unemployed Americans during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The National Fraud Enforcement Division is committed to investigating and prosecuting those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars, and our Office and law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to bring those individuals to justice.”
“Phoebe Trinh’s sentencing is a reminder that unemployment benefits were meant for workers in crisis—not criminals looking to exploit them. While Americans relied on these funds to survive, fraudsters drained them for personal gain,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “Working with Vice President Vance’s White House Fraud Task Force and our state and local law enforcement partners, we will continue pursuing those who defraud American taxpayers. We will not tolerate anyone who undermines the public’s trust.”
The Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates prosecuted the case.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Former Kauai Resident Indicted for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Dakota Ianniello, 55, formerly of Hanapepe, Kauai, was indicted on July 23, 2026, after being arrested in the Western District of Wisconsin on July 21, 2026, for possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.
On May 23, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Ianniello’s vehicle and seized approximately 81.5 grams of fentanyl. After her arrest on July 21, 2026, Ianniello provided a statement to agents admitting the fentanyl seized in May 2025 was hers, she knew the substance to be fentanyl, and she distributed fentanyl to others.
If convicted, Ianniello faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, plus a term of supervised release of at least 4 years.
The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Kauai Police Department, are investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Filipino National Charged with Unlawfully Voting as an AlienRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Bernadette Acaso, 19, a Filipino national residing in Honolulu, Oahu and Kahului, Maui, was charged by criminal complaint on July 22, 2026, with unlawfully voting as an alien.
According to court records, Acaso was born in the Philippines and came to the United States in or around 2018 on an immigrant visa and became a Lawful Permanent Resident. Acaso cast a mail-in ballot in the 2024 general election. Acaso admitted in a statement to law enforcement that she understood she was not a United States citizen at the time she voted.
If convicted, Acaso faces up to one year in prison, plus a term of supervised release. Acaso also faces a fine of up to $100,000.
The charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner is prosecuting the case.
Indian National Arrested in Hawaii for Role in Gold Bar Elder Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced today that Harsh Fojalal Shah, 25, an Indian national, was arrested in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 20, 2026, and charged by criminal complaint for his alleged role in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud targeting elderly victims.
According to the criminal complaint, Shah acted as a courier in a “gold bar purchase” fraud scheme that exploited fear and secrecy to coerce an elderly victim, identified in the complaint as “Jane Doe,” into turning over her life savings. The conspirators impersonated U.S. Marshals, claimed Doe’s identity had been compromised, and directed her to liquidate her savings and purchase gold as a supposed protective measure. Doe ultimately handed over nine gold bars valued at more than $137,000 and was further pressured to liquidate her retirement account for an additional $429,000 before law enforcement intervened.
Investigators later conducted a controlled operation using prop gold. On July 20, 2026, Shah arrived at a meeting location in Kaneohe, provided Doe with a one‑dollar bill as a confirmation “password,” and accepted a box he believed contained ten gold bars. Following the meeting, Shah was observed conducting evasive driving maneuvers throughout Honolulu before being arrested. During a post‑arrest interview, Shah admitted to conducting approximately ten similar pickups from older adults over the past several months.
“The alleged gold bar scheme here underscores a growing national trend in which sophisticated organized criminal networks prey upon vulnerable older Americans using lies, deceit, false impersonation, high‑pressure tactics, and isolation to steal their life savings,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “This case highlights both the courage of an elderly victim who came forward and the commitment of federal and local law enforcement to aggressively pursue the predators who seek to defraud victims of their life savings.”
“HSI is committed to taking down the criminal groups that target vulnerable people in our community. By working closely with our federal and local partners, we’re targeting these scammers and making sure that anyone who steals from our kupuna is held accountable,” said CJ Ammons, Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge.
“This investigation demonstrates that those who exploit and victimize our community will be relentlessly pursued,” said Lieutenant Kawananakoa Saul, District 4 Burglary/Theft Detail I Misdemeanor Follow-Up Detail. “The Honolulu Police Department remains committed to protecting our residents through proactive investigations and coordinated law enforcement efforts.”
“The Hawaii Attorney General’s Investigation Division is committed to protecting our residents from criminals who use technology to impersonate law enforcement officers,” said Tom Alipio, Chief of the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General Investigations Division. “We will continue to work with our federal, state, and city partners to identify those responsible and hold them accountable.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii urges older adults and their families to take steps to protect themselves from fraud. Never trust unexpected calls, texts, or emails claiming your accounts are compromised or demanding secrecy—legitimate government agencies will never ask you to purchase gold or other precious metals, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to safeguard your identity. Always verify suspicious communications by contacting the agency or company directly using an official phone number, and discuss unusual financial requests with trusted family members or friends. Do not click unsolicited pop-ups on your computer, links sent via texts, or links and attachments embedded in emails from unknown or spoofed senders, and do not call unknown telephone numbers shown in pop-ups, texts, or emails. Do not download software at the request of unknown individuals or let unknown individuals have access to your computer. Anyone who believes they may be the victim of a scam should immediately report it to local or federal law enforcement.
If convicted, Shah faces up to 20 years in prison and fine of up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release.
The charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case with assistance from the Honolulu Police Department and the Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mohammad Khatib is prosecuting the case.
Leader of Violent Extremist Terror Network “Cultists” Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kalana Limkin, 20, of Hilo, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison (the statutory maximum) followed by 20 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. Limkin pled guilty without a plea agreement on February 13, 2025.
Limkin, the co-founder and ringleader of an online violent nihilistic extremist (“NVE”) group known as “Cultists,” pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on February 13, 2025. The charge was part of a broader course of depraved conduct in which Limkin and Cultists members engaged.
According to information presented to the Court at sentencing, Cultists became a well-known and highly recognizable brand within the larger NVE community in part due to the shock value of the content and activities within its servers and digital spaces. Cultists members collaborated to victimize children in a systematic attempt to trigger social collapse and topple the current world order. Limkin used Cultists to incite children to self-mutilate, broadcast sexual acts, and film their own suicides. By desensitizing them to gore and child sexual abuse material, Cultists groomed these minors for future violent behavior.
Limkin showed one minor victim an image of a 5-year-old girl getting raped to desensitize her. He sent naked pictures of her to her friends and attempted to groom her by making her take nude photos of her younger siblings. As Limkin explained to another of his minor victims, he “took advantage of the mentally unstable because they were easy to manipulate.” Limkin extorted a third victim with her own sexual abuse material to convince her to commit suicide. In the recorded video chat, Limkin proclaimed, “We want her to die. Yes, we do. That’s the whole point of this. I threatened to leak everything.”
“Limkin represents a growing and depraved group of violent extremists who target vulnerable juveniles online for the sick pleasure they derive from causing their young impressionable victims to commit acts of self-harm, at times even encouraging them to commit suicide,” said United States Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will tirelessly pursue and charge those who weaponize the internet to gain possession of child pornography and the reprehensible pleasure they seek to gain from urging children to commit acts of self-harm and mutilation.”
“Limkin—and the predatory, nihilistic extremist group Cultists—utilized heinous, sadistic online exploitation tactics to prey on children, forcing them into a cycle of self-harm, violence, and abuse,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “The FBI and our partners will exhaust every resource to protect the most vulnerable members of our community from online predators, and continue our efforts to dismantle these violent extremist networks, pull their members from the shadows of the internet, and bring justice to their doorstep.”
FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mohammad Khatib prosecuted the case, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Oahu Man Pleads Guilty to Transferring Money to Iran in Violation of U.S. SanctionsRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Arash Einolghozati, 37, of Waialua, Oahu, pled guilty on July 13, 2026 in federal court to transferring funds from the United States to Iran without a license, in violation of U.S. sanctions. Sentencing is set for October 29, 2026.
According to court records, beginning as early as March 2017, and continuing until at least April 2022, Einolghozati engaged in multiple money transfers intended to move money from the United States to Iran. Einolghozati sent both government-issued currency and cryptocurrency from within the United States to recipients that he knew were in Iran or to recipients who would further transfer the funds to individuals in Iran. In each case, Einolghozati knew that it was unlawful to send the funds without a license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control but did so anyway. As described in the plea agreement, Einolghozati transferred more than $150,000 to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions.
Einolghozati faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a period of supervised release of up to three years.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese is prosecuting the case.
California Drug Trafficker and Money Launderer Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Conspiracy in Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Dylan Tai Dang, 55, of Garden Grove, California, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park to 87 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Judge Park ordered Dang remanded into custody immediately following his sentencing.
According to court records, between April 2023 and April 2025, Dang and his coconspirator, Bill Van Nguyen, sold and distributed over thirty-four and a half pounds of methamphetamine and eleven and a half pounds of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced pills from their base of operations in California to a Hawaii purchaser, who was an undercover law enforcement employee (the “undercover”). The undercover operation involved over $100,000 in payments for drugs intended to be distributed in Hawaii. Dang flew from California to Hawaii on two occasions to pick up over $41,000 in cash drug proceeds from the undercover. He also laundered payments for other drug transactions through bank accounts of five shell corporations that he set up and controlled. For three completed drug transactions in the conspiracy and one attempt, Dang acted as the frontman and negotiated the transactions with the undercover presenting an array of drugs for sale and using coded drug language in their communications.
Separate from the conspiracy, Dang flew to Hawaii to meet with the undercover to discuss Dang’s money laundering activities. Dang agreed to launder $25,000 in drug proceeds for the undercover for a 5% fee. Dang directed the undercover to transfer the funds to bank accounts tied to shell corporations that Dang controlled and then Dang returned the money back to the undercover less his fee. During the investigation, the government identified nine shell corporations set up by Dang, who facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars through the shell corporations’ associated bank accounts.
At sentencing, Judge Park emphasized the “immense burden” that drug trafficking places on the community and the harm its causes families. She noted that Dang’s conduct involved bringing an “extraordinarily high” amount of methamphetamine and fentanyl into a community that Dang did not even live in yet was “willing to destroy.” In arriving at her sentence, Judge Park also pointed to Dang’s “degree of sophistication and planning” in laundering drug money through multiple shell corporations as a significant aggravating factor.
Dang’s coconspirator, Nguyen pleaded guilty to distributing, attempting to distribute, and conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and was sentenced to 220 months in prison by Senior United States District Judge Helen Gillmor on June 22, 2026.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Honolulu Police Department, and Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca A. Perlmutter prosecuted the case.
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS and HHIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.
West Oahu Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Prison for Purchasing over 100 Pounds of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Heroin from an Undercover Officer in Homeland Security Task Force OperationRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Bryson Couch, 42, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced on June 23, 2026 by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Derrick K. Watson to 188 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.
According to court records, in July 2023, Couch was introduced to an undercover federal investigator posing as a large-scale drug supplier from the continental United States. In subsequent meetings, Couch arranged to purchase 100 pounds of methamphetamine, two kilograms of cocaine, and approximately one kilogram of heroin from the undercover officer for $134,000. On November 29, 2023, the defendant met the undercover officer at a Honolulu hotel with $134,000 in cash. He then accepted three suitcases containing the agreed upon controlled substances and left the hotel room where he was arrested by law enforcement.
“The lesson to drug traffickers in Hawaii from Bryson Couch’s sentencing should be clear: there is nowhere for you to run and hide. We are proactively working with our law enforcement partners to hunt down and bring to justice anyone trafficking dangerous narcotics into our islands,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “Dealer by dealer, supplier by supplier, we are tirelessly working to disrupt and dismantle any drug trafficking operations infecting our state.”
“The 15-year sentence handed down to Bryson Couch is a clear reminder that drug trafficking is a losing gamble. It’s only a matter of time before the person you’re making these deals with is working with us,” said CJ Ammons, Acting Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Honolulu Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Albanese prosecuted the case.
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS and HHIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.
California Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to over Eighteen Years in Prison in Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Bill Van Nguyen, a/k/a “Sau,” 57, of Garden Grove, California, was sentenced on June 22, 2026 by Senior United States District Judge Helen Gillmor to 220 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for distributing, attempting to distribute, and conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. The court also imposed a money judgment ordering Nguyen to forfeit $118,050 in drug proceeds.
According to court records, between April 2023 and April 2025, Nguyen sold and distributed over thirty-four and a half pounds of methamphetamine and eleven and a half pounds of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced pills from his base of operations in California to a Hawaii purchaser, who was an undercover law enforcement employee (the “undercover”). Nguyen sold the drugs to the undercover for approximately $118,050 and shipped them from California to Hawaii, concealing the drug shipments in canned goods labeled as hominy and condensed milk. Nguyen told the undercover he had a supplier in Mexico, traveled to Mexico during the timeframe of the conspiracy, and had access to other drugs, including oxycodone cocaine, and ketamine.
Over an approximately two-year period, Nguyen communicated with the undercover by text, phone calls, and in-person meetings in California. Nguyen directed and conspired with another California individual, Dylan Dang, who traveled to Hawaii on two occasions to meet with the undercover to take cash payments for the drug transactions. Dang has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced in the District of Hawaii on July 7, 2026.
“Bill Van Nguyen made the choice to traffic massive amounts of crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl into Hawaii, and for those efforts, he will now spend most of the next two decades doing hard time in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The 220-month sentence in this case sends the clear message that trafficking deadly drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl in Hawaii is a one-way ticket to a long prison sentence.”
“Drug trafficking organizations operate with indifference toward the communities and lives they destroy—all to make a profit,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “This sentence is a direct result of the collaboration and dogged work of our federal, state, and local partners to dismantle criminal drug trafficking networks. The FBI is committed to removing these dangerous narcotics—and the individuals who push them—from our streets.”
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Honolulu Police Department, and Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca A. Perlmutter prosecuted the case.
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS and HHIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.
National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 455 Defendants Charged in Connection with over $6.5 Billion in Alleged Fraud, Including Oahu Man Charged with Fraudulent Billing Resulting in $1.5 Million LossRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Today, United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced criminal charges against Henry Quan in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud Medicare. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from a scheme to bill for prescription drugs that were never dispensed.
“Health care fraud – driven by greed and a total disregard for the patients whom health care providers are meant to serve – is a blight on our community that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners are committed to eradicating,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will bring to justice those who seek to steal from our taxpayers, undermine our federal health care programs, and endanger the lives of patients in the process.”
“Protecting federal healthcare programs from fraud and abuse is a top priority for the FBI,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “As alleged, the defendant compromised the integrity of our healthcare system and put profits over patient care by charging Medicare for prescription drugs that were never provided. The FBI, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue and hold accountable anyone who attempts to enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers and vulnerable patients.”
“These charges reflect the serious threat that health care fraud poses to patients and to the integrity of federal healthcare programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Pacific Regional Office. “I want to commend the investigators and prosecutors whose diligent work brought these allegations to light. HHS-OIG remains committed to pursuing those who exploit and defraud the Medicare program.”
The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. Today’s Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.
Today’s coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:
- Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers.
- 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers.
- Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million.
- 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.
In the District of Hawaii, Henry Quan, 54, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was charged by criminal complaint with healthcare fraud in connection with a scheme to bill Medicare for prescription drugs that were never dispensed, resulting in a loss of at least $1.5 million. As alleged in the criminal complaint, Quan, a registered pharmacist, controlled Wellness Pharmacy, which billed for drugs that were not dispensed. This included fraudulently billing for several high-cost medications, such as Restasis, for which the pharmacy did not have sufficient supplies on hand to cover the medications it claimed to have dispensed to patients.
The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virigina participated in the investigation of federal cases announced today.
Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.
The District of Hawaii, in particular, worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division and the following law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the Takedown: the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Albanese is prosecuting the case against Quan.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Oahu Woman Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Destroying Cellphone Evidence to Thwart Federal Firearms InvestigationRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Jordan Ishida, 27, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact by destroying two cellphones that were evidence in a federal firearms case.
According to information presented to the court, on November 5, 2023, Honolulu Police Department (HPD) officers were dispatched to a reported crime scene on Kapiolani Boulevard in Honolulu. Upon arrival, HPD officers encountered Chris Hong Tran and Ishida outside Tran’s vehicle. HPD officers recovered a magazine loaded with nine 9mm rounds of ammunition from Tran’s pocket, as well as a 9mm Sig Sauer pistol and a pepper ball gun from Tran’s vehicle. HPD officers also recovered an additional magazine loaded with six 9mm rounds of ammunition from the roadway near Tran’s vehicle. Further investigation revealed that Tran shot pepper balls at numerous individuals before brandishing the 9mm firearm at a bystander outside of a nightclub.
The FBI had been actively investigating Tran—a felon with two prior federal convictions for methamphetamine trafficking—for firearms offenses when he was arrested for the November 5, 2023 incident. The next day, Tran was charged federally for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Knowing that Tran had been charged and that the FBI was looking for the two cell phones Tran had on the night of his arrest, Ishida destroyed one of the phones on November 7 and discarded it in a sewer drain, and she gave the second phone to another individual with instructions to destroy it.
Ishida testified at an evidentiary hearing that was held in connection with her sentencing. The court found Ishida’s testimony to be untruthful and, as a result, applied an additional sentencing enhancement for obstruction of justice.
Tran was previously sentenced on February 13, 2025 to 108 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for the underlying firearms offense.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker prosecuted the case.
Man Charged with Sending Antisemitic Threats to Kill Governor of Hawaii and His FamilyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Eric Lee Boltz, 51, residing in Montana, was charged by criminal complaint on June 3, 2026, with sending interstate communications containing threats and cyberstalking. Boltz was arrested and had his initial appearance in the District of Montana on June 10. Boltz was ordered detained pending transportation to the District of Hawaii.
According to court records, in December 2025, Boltz left a series of threatening and antisemitic voicemails with Hawaii Governor Josh Green’s office. Disguising his voice, Boltz threatened to kill the Governor and his family and sexually assault his daughter. When interviewed by law enforcement, Boltz said he left the voicemails to “shake [Governor Green] up.”
If convicted, Boltz faces up to 5 years in prison and fine of up to $250,000 per count, plus a term of supervised release.
The charges in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker is prosecuting the case.
Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Submitting Fraudulent FEMA Claims for Lahaina and California Wildfire Federal DisastersRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Daylyn Harris, 35, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced on June 5, 2026, to 24 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with false claims he submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) seeking disaster relief related to the Lahaina and Pacific Palisades wildfire disasters, as well as a separate obstruction of justice charge. Harris was also ordered to pay $60,458 in restitution to FEMA. His codefendant Chelsea Johnson was previously sentenced to four months in prison.
According to Court records, Harris and Johnson conspired to defraud FEMA by submitting false disaster relief claims tied to the Lahaina and Pacific Palisades wildfires. They claimed lost income, housing, and property even though they did not live in the disaster area or suffer those losses.
Specifically, Harris falsely claimed that he resided in Lahaina during the Lahaina wildfires, and that he lost housing, income, suffered medical bills, and lost property as a result. Johnson assisted the fraud by posing as Harris’s Maui landlord. Johnson then falsely claimed to live in Pacific Palisades, California during the Pacific Palisades wildfires and falsely claimed she lost housing and incurred other expenses as a result. Together, Harris and Johnson received over $60,000 in disaster relief from FEMA intended for victims of the wildfires.
After he pled guilty, Harris also submitted fabricated flight records to the court to refute allegations that he had violated his conditions of pretrial release. For this conduct, he was charged with and pled guilty to obstruction of justice.
“At a time when federal resources were desperately needed by victims of the Lahaina and Pacific Palisades wildfires, Harris stole from the public to satisfy his own greed,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “Preventing, investigating, and prosecuting the theft and fraudulent diversion of disaster relief funds is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and those who seek to profit through fraud off of the devastation and hardship of our neighbors will face swift and certain justice in federal court.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Oahu Man Indicted on Multiple Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Craig Domingo, 60, of Mililani, Oahu, was indicted on June 4, 2026, on firearm and drug charges including two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Domingo was previously charged by criminal complaint on March 28, 2025 and has been detained since his arrest on federal charges.
According to court records, Domingo was arrested on state burglary charges in November 2023. A narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs during an inspection of Domingo’s vehicle, and a subsequent search of his vehicle uncovered ten rounds of ammunition and glass pipes containing methamphetamine residue. Domingo, who had a previous conviction for Robbery in the First Degree, was charged federally in 2025 with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Following additional investigation, he was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on additional charges of possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of that crime, as well as possessing the shotgun and ammunition as a felon.
If convicted, Domingo faces up to life imprisonment, including a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years, and fine of up to $20,000,000, plus a term of supervised release.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Spring CleaningRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Spring Cleaning, a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the FBI to combat gang-related threats and enhance public safety. The operation coordinated with federal, state, and local law enforcement and targeted the illegal flow of firearms and narcotics in our communities. The operation began on March 1 and ended May 31.
In total, Operation Spring Cleaning led to over 1100 arrests, over 600 charges filed, and almost 600 search warrants conducted. The operation also resulted in the seizure of:
- Almost 1000 illegal firearms, dozens of which were equipped with machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) as well as over 75 stand-alone MCDs; and
- Over 2,700 pounds of illegal narcotics, including:
o Over 500 kilograms of cocaine or more than 1100 pounds,
o Nearly 700 pounds of methamphetamine,
o Over 550 pounds of marijuana,
o Nearly 50 kilograms of fentanyl or more than 100 pounds,
o Almost 40 kilograms of heroin or more than 85 pounds,
o More than 7 kilograms of crack cocaine or more than 16 pounds, and
o More than 13,200 pills of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly.
“When our neighborhoods are safe from the scourge of deadly drugs, individuals and families can prosper,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Trump Administration has made significant progress in removing this poison from our streets, a key step in our commitment to making America safe again.”
“This FBI understands that communities across our country have been ravaged by gangs and the firearms and narcotics they flood our streets with,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Spring Cleaning represents our total commitment to crushing this kind of violent crime and eliminating the criminal networks who facilitate them – with over 1,000 arrests, 1,000 firearms seized, and 3,000 pounds of narcotics removed from our neighborhoods. Righteous operations like this show this FBI is only getting started and will continue delivering the most prolific run of crime reduction in U.S. history.”
“Operation Spring Cleaning represents a significant step in Hawaii and across the country toward dismantling and disrupting drug trafficking and the violent gangs that plague our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will continue to hunt down and bring to justice those who victimize Hawaii with drug trafficking and the use of firearms to protect their illicit criminal operations.”
“As reflected in the record number of arrests, seizures, and disruptions across the country, the message sent by Operation Spring Cleaning is deliberate and unequivocal—to the violent gangs operating in our communities: your time is up,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Through enforcement operations and the removal of illegal firearms and lethal narcotics from our streets, we haven’t just disrupted criminal networks—we have actively prevented violence and saved lives. The FBI, alongside our dedicated federal, state, and local partners, will continue to relentlessly track down those who flood our communities with poison and traffic in fear. We live here. We work here. This is our home, and we refuse to cede our neighborhoods to violent criminals.”
Guns, drugs, and money seized by FBI Honolulu Field Office during Operation Spring Cleaning.FBI Honolulu, with assistance from federal and local law enforcement partners, conducted 1 largescale takedown and 2 additional operations during Operation Spring Cleaning, which led to the arrests and indictments of 11 individuals, including 10 alleged members of a drug trafficking organization. After executing 27 warrants, investigators seized approximately 8 kilograms of methamphetamine, 5 kilograms of cocaine, 4 kilograms of other miscellaneous illegal drugs, 10 firearms, 11 firearm accessories, and $150,000 in U.S. currency.
Operation Spring Cleaning comes on the heels of another significant FBI Honolulu-led operation that led to the seizure of over 40 firearms – including an Uzi submachine gun, short-barreled rifles, and an AR-style pistol – and the arrest of two brothers.
FBI Honolulu and its enforcement partners seized approximately 14 kilograms of illegal narcotics as part of Operation Spring Cleaning.Investigators during Operation Spring Cleaning.
Oahu Man Indicted for Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Fletcher Bailey Kop, 41, of Oahu, Hawaii, was indicted on June 4, 2026 for receiving and possessing child pornography. Kop was previously charged by criminal complaint on April 21, 2026 and has been detained since his arrest.
According to court records, Kop was identified as a potential witness to a burglary in December 2025. As part of the investigation, Kop consented to a search of his cellphone, which uncovered over 100 images of child pornography, including of girls aged 10-12 years old engaged in sexual acts with adult men. Federal investigators obtained a warrant to continue searching Kop’s phone and uncovered over 60 videos constituting child pornography. Some of the videos were of girls potentially as young as 5 years old.
If convicted, Kop faces up to 20 years in prison, including a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, and fine of up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
United States Attorney’s Office and FBI Crack Down on Aircraft Lasing as Maui Man Awaits SentencingRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii, in partnership with the FBI and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is working to identify and prosecute those endangering aircraft with laser pointers. Shining a laser at an aircraft can impair a pilot’s vision—sometimes permanently—during critical moments of flight. These incidents present a serious safety risk to everyone on board the aircraft and to the communities below.
“Hawaii has one of the highest rates of aircraft lasing in the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “That is simply unacceptable. Pointing a laser at an aircraft is highly dangerous, illegal, and will be met with the full force of federal law enforcement. My office is committed to working with the FBI and other law enforcement partners, as well as with the FAA, to identify those responsible and hold them accountable.”
Federal law treats aircraft lasing as a serious criminal offense. Knowingly aiming a laser pointer beam at an aircraft or its flight path is a federal felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to five years. Where the aircraft is federally operated, lasing the aircraft can also constitute assault on a federal officer. Individuals who aid and abet such conduct, or even those who act as accessories after the fact, may also face federal prosecution.
Jesse Kong, 33, of Maui, Hawaii, pled guilty in federal court on April 15, 2026, to being an accessory after the fact to a laser-pointer assault on a federal pilot. He faces up to 6 months of imprisonment for that crime. Kong admitted in his plea agreement to purchasing a laser pointer online and loaning it to an associate who, in Kong’s presence, aimed the laser at a federal aircraft and into its cockpit, disorienting the pilot and interfering with the aircraft’s operations. Shortly after the incident, FBI agents intercepted Kong and his associate, questioning both, and Kong falsely represented that the individuals responsible had already left the scene, thereby assisting his associate in eluding apprehension. Kong is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17, 2026.
As Kong’s prosecution shows, the FBI can swiftly track down those responsible for laser strikes on aircraft.
Image 1. Still from video footage of aircraft lasing incident involving Kong.
Image 2. Still of video footage of individuals near laser origin in incident involving Kong.
As video footage of various aircraft lasing incidents demonstrates, shining a laser at an aircraft can significantly impair a pilot’s field of vision and presents a danger to those in the aircraft and on the ground.
“Aiming a laser at an aircraft is not a prank; it is a direct assault on the safety of the pilot, the passengers, and everyone on the ground below,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “These high-powered beams can instantly impair a pilot’s vision during the most critical phases of flight, turning a routine journey into a potential catastrophe. We use every resource at our disposal to track the illegal use of these lasers back to the source. If you light up the sky and an aircraft, expect us to come knocking at your door.”
“The FBI’s action demonstrates the positive safety impacts of working closely with our law enforcement partners. During the first five months of 2026, we have seen a 10.6% decrease in laser strikes in Hawaii. This is an example of how support of the FAA’s ‘Lose the Laser’ campaign is getting results,” said FAA Associate Administrator for Security and Intelligence Ben Supko.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also warns that laser pointers sold online are often mislabeled as to classification and power output. Devices marketed as low-powered, handheld pointers may in fact emit laser radiation at much higher power levels than advertised. Some handheld devices can start fires and cause severe ocular damage.
Pilots and aviation personnel should report laser strikes immediately to air traffic control and the FAA. Members of the public who witness someone pointing a laser at an aircraft are encouraged to contact authorities.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Slack is prosecuting the case.
Japanese National Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Export Firearm Components and Tactical Accessories to JapanRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Shota Yamamoto, 29, of Tokyo, Japan, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by United States District Court Judge Micah W.J. Smith to 12 months and one day in prison for conspiring to violate the Export Control Reform Act by exporting firearm components and tactical accessories to Japan. Yamamoto pled guilty on January 22, 2026. Yamamoto is expected to be deported to Japan upon the completion of his sentence.
According to court records, from approximately March 2024 through July 2025, Yamamoto conspired with another person to export firearm components and tactical accessories from the United States to Japan without the required licenses. Yamamoto intended to use those items to retrofit airsoft equipment for sale to airsoft enthusiasts in Japan seeking highly realistic equipment. Airsoft is a recreational activity in which participants use replica firearms to engage in simulated combat scenarios using non-metallic pellets.
Yamamoto used an address in Hawaii to receive shipments from U.S. firearms components and accessories dealers, and then arranged for their export to Japan, either by carrying them in checked luggage or by shipping them through a commercial shipping company. Yamamoto admitted that he exported or attempted to export over 900 firearms components and accessories, including AR-15 lower receiver parts kits, upper receivers, magazines, and similar components, each of which required a license to export that Yamamoto did not have.
“The unlawful export of firearm components endangers the public and presents a significant national security threat,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson.
“Yamamoto’s sentence and expected deportation should serve as a stern warning that this conduct will not be tolerated. The protection of our country is paramount, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will devote significant resources to investigating and prosecuting these cases.”
“The sentencing sends a clear message: Homeland Security Investigations will not tolerate the illegal export of firearm components that threaten public safety and national security. HSI remains committed to working with our partners to investigate and disrupt these criminal networks, and to hold those responsible accountable for their actions,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas.
Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Commerce – Bureau of Industry and Security investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted the case.
Oahu Man Charged with Threatening to Kill Governor of Michigan and Shoot up Michigan State CapitolRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Ronald Saville, 48, of Honolulu, was charged by criminal complaint on June 1, 2026, with sending interstate communications containing threats. Saville was located and arrested in Abilene, Texas on June 1, 2026. His initial appearance was held in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas on June 1, 2026, and he was ordered detained pending transportation to the District of Hawaii.
According to court records, on May 9, 2026, Saville emailed the Michigan State Police identifying himself, referencing the state capitol in Lansing, Michigan, and stating that he was “going to walk in with a gun at A.R. 15 and open fire and kill as many people as possible. I mean what I say I’m not a joke.” A short while later, Saville sent a second email to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer stating, “just to let you know on Tuesday second, Lancy, Michigan is never gonna be the same again going to walk into the state capital shoot it up and kill as many people as possible than that I’m coming for you[.]”
Saville called the FBI on May 12, 2026, and told an FBI agent that he wanted to kill Governor Whitmer because of her political affiliation, that he had been conducting online research to plan a trip to Michigan to carry out his threat, and that he still intended to carry out his threat.
Saville was previously convicted twice in federal court in the District of Hawaii for making threats toward former United States President George W. Bush in 2006 and toward former United States District Judge Susan Oki Mollway in 2012.
If convicted, Saville faces up to 5 years in prison per count and a fine of up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release.
The charges in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
FBI is investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner is prosecuting the case.
Filipino National Charged with Unlawfully Voting as an AlienRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Remedios Alasaas, 66, of Kahului, Maui, was charged today, June 1, 2026, by Information, with unlawfully voting as an alien.
Alasaas came to the United States in or around 2014 on an immigrant visa and registered to vote soon thereafter. According to court records, Alasaas was a non-citizen when she cast votes in two Federal elections: first, in a general election on or about November 8, 2022, and then in a primary election on or about August 10, 2024. On both occasions, Alasaas understood that she was not a citizen at the time that she cast her ballot.
If convicted, Alasaas faces up to one year in prison for each charge, plus a term of supervised release. Alasaas also faces a fine of up to $100,000.
“The right of the people to vote in Federal elections belongs solely to American citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “When non-citizens defraud the democratic process by voting, they undermine the integrity and credibility of our elections. This Office will vigorously investigate and prosecute all instances of voter fraud.”
“The right to vote in Federal elections is a cornerstone of our democracy, and secured for U.S. citizens,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “The FBI will continue its work to ensure the integrity of our elections and hold accountable anyone who undermines the fairness of our democracy by engaging in voter fraud.”
The charges in the Information are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by the court based on statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates is prosecuting the case.
Kailua Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Vaughn Ludwig, 50, of Kailua, Hawaii, pled guilty on May 28, 2026 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl. Sentencing is scheduled for September 30, 2026 before United States District Court Chief Judge Derrick K. Watson.
As admitted in his plea agreement, from approximately November 2024 to May 2025, Ludwig conspired with narcotics suppliers to obtain fentanyl for further distribution in Hawaii. Ludwig was arrested on May 1, 2025, and caught with approximately 70.84 grams of fentanyl as well as $2,708 in U.S. currency, which he admitted were drug proceeds. In the days leading up to Ludwig’s encounter with law enforcement, he also knowingly assisted others in the distribution of heroin and fentanyl from a hotel in Waikiki. One of Ludwig’s suppliers, Charles Saikley, is charged separately and pled guilty on March 4, 2026 to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Ludwig faces a 10-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment and up to life in prison, plus a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
County Housing Official Sentenced for His Role in Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Receive Bribes from Hawaii Businessman and AttorneysRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – A former Hawaii County official, Alan Scott Rudo, 59, now of Cathedral City, California, was sentenced yesterday to 46 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to receive bribes in exchange for his official actions as a Housing Specialist at the Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD). The scheme involved affordable housing development agreements worth more than $11 million.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Paul Joseph Sulla, 79, of Hilo, Hawaii, and Gary Charles Zamber, 56, of Keaau, Hawaii, both attorneys living on the Big Island, and Rajesh Pankaj Budhabhatti, 65, now of Morro Bay, California, a private businessman on the Big Island, conspired to pay bribes and kickbacks to Rudo in exchange for Rudo’s agreement to use his official position to ensure the County approved three affordable housing agreements (AHAs) benefitting the defendants’ development companies, Luna Loa Developments LLC, West View Developments LLC and Plumeria at Waikoloa LLC. Although Rudo’s co-conspirators promised in the AHAs to build affordable housing for the citizens of Hawaii County, their development companies never built a single unit. Through the AHAs, the defendants fraudulently obtained more than $11 million worth of land and excess affordable housing credits (AHCs). From that amount, Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti paid or attempted to pay Rudo approximately $1,931,778 in bribes and kickbacks.
Zamber, Budhabhatti, and Sulla were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and nine counts of honest services wire fraud. Sulla was also charged with money laundering. Rudo, who was charged separately with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, pleaded guilty and testified at the trial of his co-conspirators. On June 4, 2025, a federal jury in the District of Hawaii convicted Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti on all counts in a superseding indictment.
Earlier this year, the court sentenced Rudo’s co-conspirators in the bribery scheme. Zamber was sentenced to 70 months in prison on January 30; Budhabhatti was sentenced to 90 months in prison on February 6; and Sulla was sentenced to 60 months in prison on April 23. Zamber’s and Sulla’s law licenses are currently suspended, prohibiting them from practicing law in Hawaii.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii, and Special Agent in Charge David K. Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohammad Khatib and Margaret Nammar and Trial Attorney William J. Gullotta of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case.
County Housing Official Sentenced for His Role in Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Receive Bribes from Hawaii Businessman and AttorneysRead the Press Release
A former Hawaii County official, Alan Scott Rudo, 59, now of Cathedral City, California, was sentenced yesterday to 46 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to receive bribes in exchange for his official actions as a Housing Specialist at the Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD). The scheme involved affordable housing development agreements worth more than $11 million.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Paul Joseph Sulla, 79, of Hilo, Hawaii, and Gary Charles Zamber, 56, of Keaau, Hawaii, both attorneys living on the Big Island, and Rajesh Pankaj Budhabhatti, 65, now of Morro Bay, California, a private businessman on the Big Island, conspired to pay bribes and kickbacks to Rudo in exchange for Rudo’s agreement to use his official position to ensure the County approved three affordable housing agreements (AHAs) benefitting the defendants’ development companies, Luna Loa Developments LLC, West View Developments LLC and Plumeria at Waikoloa LLC. Although Rudo’s co-conspirators promised in the AHAs to build affordable housing for the citizens of Hawaii County, their development companies never built a single unit. Through the AHAs, the defendants fraudulently obtained more than $11 million worth of land and excess affordable housing credits (AHCs). From that amount, Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti paid or attempted to pay Rudo approximately $1,931,778 in bribes and kickbacks.
Zamber, Budhabhatti, and Sulla were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and nine counts of honest services wire fraud. Sulla was also charged with money laundering. Rudo, who was charged separately with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, pleaded guilty and testified at the trial of his co-conspirators. On June 4, 2025, a federal jury in the District of Hawaii convicted Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti on all counts in a superseding indictment.
Earlier this year, the court sentenced Rudo’s co-conspirators in the bribery scheme. Zamber was sentenced on Jan. 30 to 70 months in prison; Budhabhatti was sentenced on Feb. 6 to 90 months in prison; and Sulla was sentenced on April 23 to 60 months in prison. Zamber’s and Sulla’s law licenses are currently suspended, prohibiting them from practicing law in Hawaii.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii, and Special Agent in Charge David K. Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Honolulu Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney William J. Gullotta of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohammad Khatib and Margaret Nammar for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.
Washington Man Formally Charged by Information with Harassing Endangered Monk Seal by Hurling Large Rock at Its HeadRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, was charged today, May 26, 2026, by Information, with “taking” an endangered Hawaiian monk seal by throwing a large rock at the seal’s head, in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. Under the statutes, a “taking” includes, among other things, harassing, harming, pursuing, hunting, wounding, and killing a protected species, or attempting to do so. Lytvynchuk was previously charged by criminal complaint on May 12, 2026 and arrested the following day, near Seattle, Washington by Special Agents of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
According to court records, Lytvynchuk was observed and filmed on May 5, 2026 walking along the shoreline in the Lahaina area of Maui tracking the movements of a Hawaiian monk seal as it playfully pushed a floating log close to the shoreline. According to the complaint, Lytvynchuk then picked up a large rock, took aim, and threw the rock directly at the seal head. The rock narrowly missed the seal’s nose, startling it, and causing it to rear up out of the water. Witnesses immediately confronted Lytvynchuk and told him they had contacted law enforcement, to which Lytvynchuk reportedly responded that he was “rich enough to pay the fines,” before walking away. According to witnesses, the monk seal remained largely immobile for an extended period of time after the incident, which caused much concern over the seal’s welfare.
If convicted, Lytvynchuk, faces up to one year in prison for each charge, plus a term of supervised release. Lytvynchuk also faces a fine of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act, a fine of up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and a fine of up to $100,000 under the Criminal Fine Improvements Act.
“Today’s charges against Igor Lytvynchuk demonstrate our solemn commitment to not only protect Hawaii’s endangered monk seals, but all of our unique and endangered wildlife species from those who illegally harass, injure, or attempt to take them in defiance of federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “Igor Lytvynchuk now stands formally charged for these alleged offenses and will face justice in federal court. We urge all to allow the process of justice to proceed and understand that Lytvynchuk enjoys certain rights, including the presumption of innocence. We look forward to proceeding with our case in United States District Court.”
The charges in the Information are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service – Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Nammar is prosecuting the case.
Two Defense Contractors Arrested for Bribery and Major Fraud Conspiracy Scheme Affecting Department of War Technology Innovation ContractsRead the Press Release
Today, the Justice Department announced criminal charges against Leonard Pick, 62, of Palm Beach Shores, Florida, and Brian Kent, 59, of Tampa, Florida, for orchestrating a bribery and major fraud conspiracy that corrupted the competitive procurement process for a Department of War technology innovation lab in the Pacific. The defendants’ alleged conduct specifically affected the construction and operation of the U.S. Army Pacific Command’s Hawaii-Pacific Innovation Campus, which was intended to be a hub for testing new technologies for the Department of War.
The indictment, filed in the District of Hawaii on May 14 and unsealed today, alleges that, from January 2021 to October 2022, Pick and Kent conspired to bribe a U.S. Army employee with approximately $1.25 million over five years and fraudulently inflated government contracting costs to include the U.S. Army employee’s bribe payments. The indictment further alleges that, from approximately September 2020, up to and including October 2022, defendant Kent further defrauded the government by inflating government contract costs to include approximately $680,000 in payments intended for and sent to Kent’s personal consulting business.
“When defense contractors obtain government-funded work through bribery and fraud, they rob our military and the American people of the benefits of a fair, competitive procurement process,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel W. Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division and its partners in the Procurement Collusion Strike Force will vigorously prosecute those that seek to profit at the expense of American taxpayers.”
“Government contracts must be awarded based on fair competition, not secret bribes hidden in inflated costs,” said Acting Director of Criminal Enforcement Paul V. Courtney of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Those who corrupt the procurement process and defraud the American taxpayer should know this: we will find you, prosecute you, and hold you accountable.”
“Corruption in our military procurement processes harms honest companies seeking to compete fairly, steals from our taxpayers, and erodes faith in our government institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “We remain committed to holding accountable in federal court any defense contractors who attempt to undermine fair competition through bribery and corrupt practices.”
“The criminal conduct uncovered in this investigation represents a profound betrayal of the public trust,” said Special Agent in Charge David Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office. “The defendants used bribery and fraud to obtain significant defense contracts, prioritizing personal profit over national security. Let this serve as a clear warning — the FBI and our federal partners will aggressively pursue and hold accountable anyone who attempts to corrupt government procurement processes for personal gain.”
“Those who scheme for ill-gotten profits through unscrupulous and shady dealings should take heed of these very serious charges,” said Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the Department of War, Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Transnational Operations Field Office. “Swindling the American taxpayers through corruption and fraud will never be tolerated by the dedicated professionals of DCIS and our partner agencies. We are steadfast in our commitment to ensure the integrity of the U.S. military procurement system and hold those who threaten it accountable.”
“Those who attempt to corrupt government processes for personal gain undermine public trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bjornstad of the U.S. General Services Administration Office of Inspector General Western Investigations Division. “GSA OIG special agents will continue working with our law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate those who abuse positions of trust and responsibility.”
“Bribery and conspiracy within the defense supply chain are more than just financial crimes; they represent a direct threat to our mission readiness and the safety of our service members,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS will continue working tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle corrupt networks and safeguard the resources necessary to support our warfighters.”
Defendants Pick and Kent are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and major fraud against the United States, one count of bribery, one count of major fraud against the United States, and one count of wire fraud. Kent is also charged with a second count of major fraud against the United States. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit bribery and major fraud is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for bribery is 15 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or three times the monetary value of the bribe, whichever is greater. The maximum penalty for major fraud against the United States is 10 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The fines may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fines. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
These indictments result from ongoing federal investigations into fraud and collusion in the defense contracting industry in Hawaii. The investigation is being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigative Division, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. General Services Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Trial Attorneys Nolan Mayther, Andrew Schupanitz and Kylie McLaughlin, and Senior Litigation Counsel Mikal Condon, are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal Jury Convicts Hanapepe Man of Producing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Pornography After 4-Day TrialRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Roger Biggs, 40, of Hanapepe, Hawaii, was convicted by a federal jury on May 14, 2026, of producing, receiving, and possessing child pornography, including of at least one child under the age of 12, following a four-day trial. Sentencing is set for September 3, 2026. Biggs remains detained pending sentencing, where he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years in prison.
At trial, the evidence showed that in December 2024, the FBI National Threat Operations Center received an anonymous online complaint regarding allegations of the sexual exploitation of a child. The complaint identified the subject as Roger Wesley Biggs, of Hanapepe, Hawaii. The FBI later became aware of numerous CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which were related to Biggs. These CyberTipline reports were filed by members of the public as well as multiple social media platforms.
The evidence at trial showed that Biggs was a serial, self-described “groomer” who targeted children, many of whom were mentally and emotionally vulnerable. Biggs contacted the children through direct message communications on social media platforms, sending thousands of messages to his victims. In one such message, he admitted to his victim: “i [sic] prey on vulnerable children.” Biggs groomed the children by sending them photographs of himself, gifts, and money, and by engaging in sexually explicit communications with them. He then convinced the children to produce, and send him, images and videos of themselves involved in sexually explicit conduct.
Among his many victims, were two 14-year-olds on the U.S. mainland, one of whom Biggs traveled to meet in person. Biggs was also convicted of possessing child pornography on his cellular phone, including at least one image of a prepubescent minor under the age of 12.
Trial Exhibit 12
“We remain committed to bringing to justice those depraved individuals like Roger Biggs who target, groom, and then victimize children, the most vulnerable members of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “While we cannot undo the harm Biggs inflicted on his minor victims, we are committed in the belief that charging and obtaining convictions in these cases sends a forceful message that those who seek to exploit and prey upon our children will be held accountable in federal court.”
“The FBI will never waver from our mission to identify and apprehend those who prey on our children,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Despite the defendant’s attempts to hide his illicit activities behind a screen, the expertise and persistence of our investigators brought his crimes to light, and justice to his doorstep. This verdict is a testament to the tireless work of the FBI’s Crimes Against Children Task Force and our commitment to protecting our island communities and youth.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Nammar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Washington Man Charged with Harassing Endangered Monk Seal “Lani” by Hurling Large Rock at Her HeadRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, was charged by criminal complaint on May 12, 2026, for harassing and attempting to harass an endangered Hawaiian monk seal by throwing a large rock at the seal’s head, in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. Lytvynchuk was arrested today, May 13, 2026, near Seattle, Washington by Special Agents of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Lytvynchuk is currently in custody and is scheduled for an initial appearance on these charges in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington (Seattle courthouse) on May 14, 2026 at 9 AM.
According to the criminal complaint unsealed today, Lytvynchuk was observed and filmed on May 5, 2026 walking along the shoreline in the Lahaina area of Maui tracking the movements of a Hawaiian monk seal, known as “Lani,” as she playfully pushed a floating log close to the shoreline. According to the complaint, Lytvynchuk then picked up a large rock, took aim, and threw the rock directly at Lani’s head. The rock narrowly missed her nose, startling her, and causing her to rear up out of the water. Witnesses immediately confronted Lytvynchuk and told him they had contacted law enforcement, to which Lytvynchuk reportedly responded that he was “rich enough to pay the fines,” before walking away. According to witnesses, Lani remained largely immobile for an extended period of time after the incident, which caused much concern over her welfare.
If convicted, Lytvynchuk, faces up to one year in prison for each charge, plus a term of supervised release. Lytvynchuk also faces a fine of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and a fine of up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
“The unique and precious wildlife of the Hawaiian Islands are renowned symbols of Hawaii’s special place in the world and its incredible biodiversity. We are committed to protecting our vulnerable wild species, in particular endangered Hawaiian monk seals, like Lani,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We pledge that those who harass and attempt to harm our protected wildlife will face rapid accountability in federal court.”
The charges in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service – Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Nammar is prosecuting the case.
Kapaa Woman Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison and Ordered to Pay over 126 Thousand Dollars for Scheme to Defraud COVID-19 Pandemic Rental and Utility Assistance ProgramRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that on May 11, 2026, United States District Judge Jill A. Otake sentenced Kaiaulani C. Kaiawe, 47, of Kapaa, Hawaii to 40 months in prison for defrauding the Kauai Coronavirus Rental and Utility Assistance (CRUA) program. Judge Otake also sentenced Kaiawe to a term of supervised release of three years following her imprisonment, along with $126,026.10 in restitution to the State of Hawaii. In connection with the fraud scheme, Kaiawe had pled guilty to two counts each of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on October 9, 2025.
According to court documents, in 2021, Congress authorized the creation of Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) programs within the Department of the Treasury to fund rent, utility, and other housing-related expense assistance to households that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the State of Hawaii, the County of Kauai used ERA funds to establish the CRUA program. The County of Kauai contracted with a local credit union to administer the CRUA program.
As part of her guilty plea, Kaiawe admitted to committing wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the CRUA program to obtain benefit payments that she was not eligible to receive. The CRUA program required eligible claimants to submit an application electronically, using its website, and to provide certain personal information of the claimant, including his or her name and date of birth, as well as a landlord or property manager contact, before certifying that the representations made in the claim were true and accurate. If the credit union approved the claim, rental payments for the claimant were sent directly to the claimant’s landlord or property manager, and utility payments were sent directly to his or her utility company.
Kaiawe admitted to submitting a false CRUA claim on her own behalf, using her former name, Coty Duhaylongsod, as the claimant, and entering her then-current name, Kaiawe, as her own landlord to improperly receive a CRUA benefit payment. Kaiawe then submitted multiple other false CRUA claims using the personal information of others as claimants, without their knowledge and consent, and then falsely listed herself or others as the landlord or property manager to obtain additional benefit payments that she was not entitled to receive. In addition, Kaiawe admitted that she provided false and altered documentation to support each CRUA claim that she submitted. In total, Kaiawe fraudulently obtained $126,026.10 in CRUA benefit payments.
“Motivated by greed, Kaiawe defrauded the government of more than $100,000, which were critical resources intended to provide a lifeline to unemployed workers of Hawaii during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “Through the work of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, we are focused more than ever on pursuing and prosecuting those who steal from public coffers through fraud and dishonesty, and we pledge to bring to justice those who seek to pilfer the public trust for their own greed.”
“These pandemic assistance programs were designed to provide a lifeline to members of our island communities in dire need,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Ms. Kaiawe did more than just break the law—she diverted critical resources away from our neighbors when they needed it most. The FBI and our partners remain committed to identifying and holding accountable those who deceive and steal taxpayer dollars for their own purposes.”
The FBI and Kauai Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates prosecuted the case.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Ten Indicted in Drug Trafficking Conspiracies in Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that ten people were charged in an indictment that was unsealed on May 6, 2026, on charges including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, and possession of a firearm.
The ten indicted individuals are:
- Navy Kapeli, a/k/a “Tiny,” “Unc,” 38, of Oahu
- Joshua Militante-Hanamaikai, a/k/a “Sparx,” 25, of Oahu
- Samuel Kaolulo, 54, of Oahu
- Dallas Jardine, 24, of Oahu
- Kenneth Taylor, 39, of Oahu
- Alabanza Tuimalealiifano, a/k/a “Insane,” 39, of Oahu
- Kaylam Kumos, 18, of Oahu
- Oriana Holmes, 38, of Oahu
- Taiana Kapeli, 54, of Hawaii
- Douglas Keliikuli, 37, of Oahu
N. Kapeli, Militante-Hanamaikai, Kaolulo, Jardine, Taylor, Kumos, Holmes and T. Kapeli face a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. Jardine has also been charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. N. Kapeli, Tuimalealiifano, and Keliikuli are accused of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court filings, the drug trafficking organization led by Kapeli and Militante-Hanamaikai had large quantities of methamphetamine shipped to Hawaii. The organization, sometimes referred to as H-Mob, used juveniles to store narcotics and firearms at the Puuwai Momi Housing complex. Investigators seized at least twenty pounds of methamphetamine during the investigation. Additionally, several firearms were seized when search warrants were executed at multiple locations on May 6, 2026, including locations within the Puuwai Momi Housing complex.
Image 1. Items seized during execution of May 6, 2026 search warrants.
In a separate conspiracy, Tuimalealiifano, an inmate at Halawa Correctional Facility, had Navy Kapeli pick up a pound of methamphetamine and deliver it to Keliikuli, a guard at the prison. Keliikuli then brought the methamphetamine into the prison where it was seized by investigators.
If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years for the drug charges and a maximum of life imprisonment, plus a term of supervised release. Jardine also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for the gun charge.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Coast Guard Investigative Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Honolulu Police Department, and Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeannette Graviss is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS and HHIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.
Businessman and Two Attorneys Sentenced for Their Roles in Multimillion Dollar Scheme to Bribe Hawaii County Public OfficialRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Three men have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to pay bribes to a public official at the Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) in exchange for his official actions in connection with affordable housing development agreements worth more than $11,000,000. Hawaii (Big Island) attorney, Gary Charles Zamber, 56, of Keaau, Hawaii, was sentenced to 70 months in prison. Former Big Island businessman, Rajesh Pankaj Budhabhatti, 65, of Morro Bay, California, was sentenced to 90 months in prison. Former Big Island attorney, Paul Joseph Sulla, 79, of Hilo, Hawaii, was sentenced to 60 months in prison.
On June 4, 2025, a jury in the District of Hawaii convicted Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti on all counts of a superseding indictment. The three defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and nine counts of honest services wire fraud for their roles in a scheme to bribe Alan Scott Rudo, a Housing Specialist at the OHCD. Sulla was also convicted of money laundering.
“This wasn’t just corruption – it was a calculated betrayal of the very community the defendants were supposed to serve,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Instead of building homes for struggling families looking for an onramp to a better life, the defendants built a scheme to enrich themselves, paying millions in bribes and kickbacks while pretending to help those in need. That kind of greed doesn’t just break the law – it erodes trust, damages institutions, robs honest businesses of opportunities and harms American citizens. The Criminal Division is committed to pursuing those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain.”
“Driven by greed, the defendants sought to enrich themselves at the expense of the Hawaiian community, diverting millions in much needed affordable housing resources intended to benefit Hawaii County’s poor and disadvantaged into the defendants’ own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “Public corruption undermines faith in our institutions and will not be tolerated. We pledge to hold accountable those who seek to victimize the people of Hawaii by compromising our public officials and institutions for their own greed and personal gain.”
“This sentencing marks another step toward accountability for those who pollute the integrity of our government institutions with bribes and kickbacks,” said Special Agent in Charge David Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office. “The defendants’ criminal schemes amounted to more than bribery and fraud — they stole opportunities from Big Island families and our community as a whole. The FBI, alongside our partners, will never stop working to pursue those who undermine the public’s trust and weaken the foundations of our community through corruption and deceit.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti conspired to pay bribes and kickbacks to Rudo in exchange for Rudo’s agreement to use his official position to ensure that Hawaii County approved three affordable housing agreements (AHAs) benefitting the defendants’ development companies, Luna Loa Developments, LLC, West View Developments, LLC and Plumeria at Waikoloa, LLC. Although the defendants promised in the AHAs to build affordable housing for the citizens of Hawaii County, their development companies never built a single unit. Through the AHAs, the defendants fraudulently obtained more than $11,000,000 worth of land and excess affordable housing credits (AHCs). From that amount, the defendants paid or attempted to pay Rudo approximately $1,931,778 in bribes and kickbacks.
Sulla was sentenced on April 23. Zamber and Budhabhatti were sentenced on January 30 and February 6, respectively. Rudo, who pleaded guilty and testified at trial, will be sentenced at a later date. Zamber’s and Sulla’s law licenses are currently suspended, prohibiting them from practicing law in Hawaii.
The FBI Honolulu Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohammad Khatib and Margaret Nammar and Trial Attorney William J. Gullotta of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case.
Businessman and Two Attorneys Sentenced for Their Roles in Multimillion Dollar Scheme to Bribe Hawaii County Public OfficialRead the Press Release
Three men have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to pay bribes to a public official at the Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) in exchange for his official actions in connection with affordable housing development agreements worth more than $11,000,000. Hawaii (Big Island) attorney, Gary Charles Zamber, 56, of Keaau, Hawaii, was sentenced to 70 months in prison. Former Big Island businessman, Rajesh Pankaj Budhabhatti, 65, of Morro Bay, California, was sentenced to 90 months in prison. Former Big Island attorney, Paul Joseph Sulla, 79, of Hilo, Hawaii, was sentenced to 60 months in prison.
On June 4, 2025, a jury in the District of Hawaii convicted Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti on all counts of a superseding indictment. The three defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and nine counts of honest services wire fraud for their roles in a scheme to bribe Alan Scott Rudo, a Housing Specialist at the OHCD. Sulla was also convicted of money laundering.
“This wasn’t just corruption – it was a calculated betrayal of the very community the defendants were supposed to serve,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Instead of building homes for struggling families looking for an onramp to a better life, the defendants built a scheme to enrich themselves, paying millions in bribes and kickbacks while pretending to help those in need. That kind of greed doesn’t just break the law – it erodes trust, damages institutions, robs honest businesses of opportunities and harms American citizens. The Criminal Division is committed to pursuing those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain.”
“Driven by greed, the defendants sought to enrich themselves at the expense of the Hawaiian community, diverting millions in much needed affordable housing resources intended to benefit Hawaii County’s poor and disadvantaged into the defendants’ own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “Public corruption undermines faith in our institutions and will not be tolerated. We pledge to hold accountable those who seek to victimize the people of Hawaii by compromising our public officials and institutions for their own greed and personal gain.”
“This sentencing marks another step toward accountability for those who pollute the integrity of our government institutions with bribes and kickbacks,” said Special Agent in Charge David Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office. “The defendants’ criminal schemes amounted to more than bribery and fraud — they stole opportunities from Big Island families and our community as a whole. The FBI, alongside our partners, will never stop working to pursue those who undermine the public’s trust and weaken the foundations of our community through corruption and deceit.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Sulla, Zamber, and Budhabhatti conspired to pay bribes and kickbacks to Rudo in exchange for Rudo’s agreement to use his official position to ensure that Hawaii County approved three affordable housing agreements (AHAs) benefitting the defendants’ development companies, Luna Loa Developments LLC, West View Developments, LLC and Plumeria at Waikoloa LLC. Although the defendants promised in the AHAs to build affordable housing for the citizens of Hawaii County, their development companies never built a single unit. Through the AHAs, the defendants fraudulently obtained more than $11,000,000 worth of land and excess affordable housing credits (AHCs). From that amount, the defendants paid or attempted to pay Rudo approximately $1,931,778 in bribes and kickbacks.
Sulla was sentenced on April 23. Zamber and Budhabhatti were sentenced on Jan. 30 and Feb. 6, respectively. Rudo, who pleaded guilty and testified at trial, will be sentenced at a later date. Zamber’s and Sulla’s law licenses are currently suspended, prohibiting them from practicing law in Hawaii.
The FBI Honolulu Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney William J. Gullotta of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohammad Khatib and Margaret Nammar for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.
Kauai Man Sentenced to Federal Prison and Ordered to Repay $1.4 Million for Stealing from Federal COVID-19 Relief ProgramRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Ethan Page, 52, of Kekaha, Hawaii, was sentenced on April 15, 2026, to fourteen months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, along with $1,409,964.35 in restitution to the Small Business Administration (“SBA”), following his guilty plea for making a false statement to the SBA.
According to court records, in or around March 2021, Congress enacted the American Rescue Plan Act, which established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (“RRF”) to provide support to eligible entities in the food service industry that suffered revenue losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain RRF funding, a qualifying business was required to submit an application to the SBA signed by an authorized representative of the business. An awardee was not required to repay funds received under the RRF program unless the funds were used for an unauthorized purpose. The program required an awardee to submit a post-award report disclosing whether and to what extent the awardee had spent RRF funds on eligible expenses.
On or about May 16, 2021, Page submitted an RRF application to the SBA in the name of his business, Hanapepe Design Studio, LLC, seeking over $1.4 million in RRF funds. The SBA approved the application and deposited just over $1.4 million into the business’s bank account. Page then transferred $1.3 million of RRF funds to his own personal investment account at another institution. Page then used the remaining $100,000 on other ineligible expenses. On or about December 22, 2021, Page signed and submitted a post-award report to the SBA, in which he falsely certified that he used the entirety of the RRF proceeds for Hanapepe Design Studio expenses that were eligible for RRF funds, such as payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, and other business operating expenses. Had Page accurately reported how he used the RRF funds, the SBA would have required Hanapepe Design Studio to repay the funds.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig S. Nolan and Gregg Paris Yates prosecuted the case.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Hawaii Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Disaster Relief Funds Intended for Lahaina and Pacific Palisades Fire VictimsRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Chelsea Johnson, 32, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday to four months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release (the first four months to be served as home confinement), along with $60,458 in restitution to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”), following her guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Her co-defendant, Daylyn Harris, who also pled guilty, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 4, 2026.
According to court records, Harris and Johnson conspired to defraud FEMA by submitting false disaster relief claims tied to the Lahaina and Pacific Palisades wildfires. They claimed lost income, housing, and property even though they did not live in the disaster area or suffer those losses.
Harris falsely claimed that he resided in Lahaina during the Lahaina wildfires and that he lost housing, income, suffered medical bills, and lost property as a result. Johnson assisted that fraud by posing as Harris’s Maui landlord. Johnson then falsely claimed to live in Pacific Palisades, California during the Pacific Palisades wildfires and falsely claimed she lost housing and incurred other expenses as a result. Together, Harris and Johnson received over $60,000 in disaster relief from FEMA intended for victims of the wildfires.
The Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted the case.
Former USDA Official Pleads Guilty to Receiving an Illegal GratuityRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Jason Shitanishi, 60, of Honolulu, Hawaii pled guilty in federal court today to receiving an illegal gratuity as a public official. Sentencing is set for July 17, 2026, before Senior U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor.
According to information presented to the court, on or about April 17, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to provide direct payments to farmers, ranchers, and consumers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was administered by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and provided payments to producers of certain commodities that experienced COVID-19 related losses. The FSA required an applicant for CFAP assistance to complete and submit an application form. The public official responsible for reviewing and approving a CFAP application for each county was the FSA County Executive Director.
In 2020 and 2021, Shitanishi was employed by the FSA as a County Executive Director for the City and County of Honolulu. On or about April 12, 2021, a woman submitted a CFAP application to Shitanishi that falsely claimed she operated a farm with $685,500 in commodity sales in 2019. The woman also claimed the farm was in the County of Maui, which was the responsibility of another County Executive Director, who was located on Maui and familiar with the farms there. The woman asked Shitanishi if he would accept her application, rather than require her to submit her application to the Maui County Executive Director. Shitanishi obtained the necessary approvals from the FSA to consider the woman’s CFAP application and then approved it. As a result of the false representation on the woman’s CFAP application, the FSA issued the woman a payment of $65,745, to which she was not entitled.
On or about April 18, 2021, the woman then gave Shitanishi a check for $5,000, which Shitanishi understood was for accepting responsibility for the woman’s CFAP application for her Maui farm. Shitanishi later deposited the check into his own personal bank account.
“Our public officials are entrusted to execute their duties honestly and with integrity. In breaching that trust, Shitanishi not only violated the law, but he betrayed the community he was charged with serving,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who breach the public trust.”
If convicted, Shitanishi faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not more than one year.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates is prosecuting the case.
Former Member of the Air Force Pleads Guilty to Multi-Year Bid Rigging Schemes and Conspiracy to Defraud U.S. Air ForceRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – A former active-duty Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force pleaded guilty yesterday to fraudulently inflating the cost of information technology (IT) contracts for the U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) by at least $37 million — and using the excess funds to enrich himself, enrich co-conspirators, and channel bribes to a federal public official in PACAF whom the conspirators nicknamed “Godfather.”
The defendant, Alan Hayward James, 51, of Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery, and conspiracy to rig bids. James also agreed to pay over $1.4 million in restitution to the U.S. Department of War.
“Over thirty-seven million dollars — that’s how much the U.S. Air Force overpaid because of the scheme that the defendant admitted to, under oath and in open court,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Criminals who rig bids and commit fraud on government contracts steal from taxpayers and threaten the public’s confidence in government institutions. The Antitrust Division’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force will detect and prosecute those who rig bids and defraud their government customers.”
“Through this bid-rigging scheme, the defendant not only stole from American taxpayers and harmed companies seeking to compete honestly for government contracts, he also ultimately harmed essential military services designed to keep our nation safe by diverting resources away from other services,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “Bid-rigging and anti-competitive behavior in government contracts erodes trust in our institutions, harms taxpayers, and will not be tolerated. We will continue to investigate and prosecute any and all who would seek to manipulate markets and undermine fair competition for their own personal gain.”
“James’s guilty plea acknowledges his role in a long-running conspiracy to rig bids and defraud the U.S. government for personal financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge John E. Helsing of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “DCIS, along with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Department of Justice, will aggressively investigate those who seek to enrich themselves through fraudulent schemes targeting the U.S. Department of Defense and American taxpayers.”
“This case highlights the capabilities and strength of joint investigative efforts to defend and protect sensitive Department of War (DoW) acquisition systems,” said Special Agent Nicole Vanourek of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Procurement Fraud. “Ensuring companies adhere to robust contracting requirements is integral to maximizing the Air Force’s lethality and readiness to address evolving security challenges.”
“Bribery, bid rigging, and wire fraud are not victimless crimes; they erode public trust, distort fair competition, and harm honest businesses who play by the rules,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bjornstad of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) Western Investigations Division. “GSA OIG special agents and our law enforcement partners remain committed to pursuing those who engage in procurement fraud.”
According to a plea agreement and information filed in the U.S. District Court in Honolulu, Hawaii, from at least April 2016 until about April 2025, James and his coconspirators falsely inflated the cost of IT contracts serving U.S. Air Force installations across the Pacific. James and his coconspirators agreed to use the excess funds to pay James, James’ family members, the family of an Air Force civilian employee, and other co-conspirators. As part of this scheme, the conspirators diverted government funds to pay for an all-expenses-paid multi-day stay at a luxury resort on the North Shore of Oahu in 2023. Also, from at least May 2019 until about October 2022, the defendant directed co-conspirators — who were supposed to be competitively bidding against one another to win government contracts — on the amounts they should bid to circumvent the competitive bidding process. As a result of the defendant’s actions, the government overpaid for IT contracts by at least $37 million.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for bribery is 15 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or three times the monetary value of the bribe, whichever is greater. The maximum penalty for a conspiracy to rig bids in violation of the Sherman Act for an individual is 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The fines may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fines. James agreed to pay a restitution of at least $1,451,656.80 to the Department of War. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case, which was investigated with the assistance of DOD-OIG-DCIS, AFOSI, and GSA-OIG. Rebecca A. Bers, Don Daniel, Matthew Chou, and Albert B. Sambat of the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, and Darren W.K. Ching of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii, are prosecuting this case.
The Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
Former Member of the Air Force Pleads Guilty to Multi-Year Bid Rigging Schemes and Conspiracy to Defraud U.S. Air ForceRead the Press Release
A former active-duty Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force pleaded guilty yesterday to fraudulently inflating the cost of information technology (IT) contracts for the U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) by at least $37 million — and using the excess funds to enrich himself, enrich co-conspirators, and channel bribes to a federal public official in PACAF whom the conspirators nicknamed “Godfather.”
The defendant, Alan Hayward James, 51, of Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery, and conspiracy to rig bids. James also agreed to pay over $1.4 million in restitution to the U.S. Department of War.
“Over thirty-seven million dollars — that’s how much the U.S. Air Force overpaid because of the scheme that the defendant admitted to, under oath and in open court.” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Criminals who rig bids and commit fraud on government contracts steal from taxpayers and threaten the public’s confidence in government institutions. The Antitrust Division’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force will detect and prosecute those who rig bids and defraud their government customers.”
“Through this bid-rigging scheme, the defendant not only stole from American taxpayers and harmed companies seeking to compete honestly for government contracts, he also ultimately harmed essential military services designed to keep our nation safe by diverting resources away from other services,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “Bid-rigging and anti-competitive behavior in government contracts erodes trust in our institutions, harms taxpayers, and will not be tolerated. We will continue to investigate and prosecute any and all who would seek to manipulate markets and undermine fair competition for their own personal gain.”
“James’s guilty plea acknowledges his role in a long-running conspiracy to rig bids and defraud the U.S. government for personal financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge John E. Helsing of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “DCIS, along with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Department of Justice, will aggressively investigate those who seek to enrich themselves through fraudulent schemes targeting the U.S. Department of Defense and American taxpayers.”
“This case highlights the capabilities and strength of joint investigative efforts to defend and protect sensitive Department of War (DoW) acquisition systems,” said Special Agent Nicole Vanourek of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Procurement Fraud. “Ensuring companies adhere to robust contracting requirements is integral to maximizing the Air Force’s lethality and readiness to address evolving security challenges.”
“Bribery, bid rigging, and wire fraud are not victimless crimes; they erode public trust, distort fair competition, and harm honest businesses who play by the rules,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bjornstad of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) Western Investigations Division. “GSA OIG special agents and our law enforcement partners remain committed to pursuing those who engage in procurement fraud.”
According to a plea agreement and information filed in the U.S. District Court in Honolulu, Hawaii, from at least April 2016 until about April 2025, James and his coconspirators falsely inflated the cost of IT contracts serving U.S. Air Force installations across the Pacific. James and his coconspirators agreed to use the excess funds to pay James, James’ family members, the family of an Air Force civilian employee, and other co-conspirators. As part of this scheme, the conspirators diverted government funds to pay for an all-expenses-paid multi-day stay at a luxury resort on the North Shore of Oahu in 2023. Also, from at least May 2019 until about October 2022, the defendant directed co-conspirators — who were supposed to be competitively bidding against one another to win government contracts — on the amounts they should bid to circumvent the competitive bidding process. As a result of the defendant’s actions, the government overpaid for IT contracts by at least $37 million.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for bribery is 15 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or three times the monetary value of the bribe, whichever is greater. The maximum penalty for a conspiracy to rig bids in violation of the Sherman Act for an individual is 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The fines may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fines. James agreed to pay a restitution of at least $1,451,656.80 to the Department of War. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case, which was investigated with the assistance of DOD-OIG-DCIS, AFOSI, and GSA-OIG. Rebecca A. Bers, Don Daniel, Matthew Chou, and Albert B. Sambat of the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, and Darren W.K. Ching of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii, are prosecuting this case.
The Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.
Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
Two Brothers Charged with Firearm Offenses After Federal Agents Seize Cache of 40+ Firearms, Including Uzi Submachine Gun, Fully-Automatic Pistol, Short-Barreled Rifles, and Silenced AR-15 Style Pistol from Kalihi ResidenceRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that brothers Skyler Supapo, 24, and Sebastian Supapo, 20, of Kalihi, Hawaii, were arrested and charged last Friday for illegally possessing firearms.
According to the criminal complaint, following an investigation into online social media accounts and suspicious parcel shipments, federal agents obtained a search warrant for a residence in Kalihi. During the execution of that search warrant, federal agents recovered a total of 44 firearms.
Among the 44 firearms, were an Uzi Submachine gun, a pistol with an installed machinegun conversion device, at least two firearms with obliterated serial numbers, two short-barreled rifles, an AR-style pistol with an installed suppressor/silencer, and one firearm suppressor/silencer. Photographs of some of the firearms are included below:
The Supapo brothers are charged with possession of a machinegun; possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number; and possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act firearm. If convicted of the charged offenses, the defendants face up to 5 years in prison for possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number and up to 10 years in prison for the other two charges, as well as a fine of up to $250,000.
The charges in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI and the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General are investigating the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Honolulu Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barbara Eucker and Michael Albanese are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Hawaiian Child Sex Trafficker ConvictedRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted Darren Patrick Riley, 45, of Honolulu, Hawaii, yesterday of 12 counts related to his trafficking and sexual exploitation of five minor boys in Oahu in 2019 and 2020.
According to evidence presented at trial, Riley used the app, Grindr, to meet the minors who ranged from 14 to 16 years old. After beginning the conversation with the victims on Grindr, Riley then arranged sexual encounters with them, enticing them with money, electronics, or drugs. Riley then engaged in a pattern of systematic sexual abuse, which included filming and later distributing videos he took of their sexual acts. In one video, Riley directed one of his victims to announce that he was 14 years old, his age at the time. Riley abused his victims in multiple locations, including his apartment, car, at the beach, and hotel rooms that Riley paid for. On one day, Riley abused two victims during separate assaults in the same hotel room.
Riley knowingly took advantage of his victims’ financial needs. For example, one victim was struggling to afford consistent meals, and another was saving money because he feared being expelled from his family home. During his abuse, Riley provided controlled substances to several of his victims. After Riley provided one victim MDMA and other pills, the victim described drifting in and out of consciousness while Riley abused him. Multiple victims tried to refuse Riley’s sexual advances, but Riley persisted. Riley’s crimes were finally uncovered when he was arrested by DEA at the Los Angeles airport for attempting to traffic methamphetamine into Hawaii. A search of his phone revealed a collection of child sexual abuse material, which prompted his charges.
“This verdict is the next step to holding Darren Riley fully accountable for his egregious pattern of preying upon and abusing children,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We commend the victims who bravely testified at trial despite the trauma they endured from a serial predator. Their testimony, along with the good work of law enforcement and the prosecutors, exposed Riley’s horrific, repeated exploitation. The work of the jury now ensures that Riley will not be a threat to other children in the future. The Department of Justice will continue prosecuting offenders like Riley, as one of the Department’s highest callings is protecting America’s children.”
“Our community is safer now that a Hawaii federal jury has held the defendant accountable for his predatory crimes against children,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “The evidence at trial was overwhelming, and the courage the five young victims demonstrated in recounting for the jury their abuse at the hands of Riley was instrumental in putting this child predator behind bars. We will continue to aggressively pursue, charge, and convict predators like Riley that victimize our children and threaten our families.”
“The defendant’s heinous acts and repetitive exploitation of victims were put to an end with this verdict,” said Special Agent in Charge David Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office. “This is the direct result of the relentless work of our agents and partners to protect the children in our communities. There is no corner of the internet or crevice on the globe where these predators can hide, as the FBI will use every resource at its disposal to bring them to justice.”
The court has not set Riley’s sentencing yet. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison on particular charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
FBI Honolulu and Los Angeles investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Perlmutter for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Honolulu Man Convicted of Child Exploitation Offenses, Including Production of Child Pornography and Sex Trafficking of ChildrenRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that a federal jury today convicted Darren Patrick Riley, 45, of Honolulu, Hawaii, of 12 counts related to his trafficking and sexual exploitation of five minor boys in Oahu in 2019 and 2020.
According to evidence presented at trial, Riley used the app, Grindr, to meet the minors who ranged from 14 to 16 years old. After beginning the conversation with the victims on Grindr, Riley then arranged sexual encounters with them, enticing them with money, electronics, or drugs. Riley then engaged in a pattern of systematic sexual abuse, which included filming and later distributing videos he took of their sexual acts. In one video, Riley directed one of his victims to announce that he was 14 years old, his age at the time. Riley abused his victims in multiple locations, including his apartment, car, at the beach, and hotel rooms that Riley paid for. On one day, Riley abused two victims during separate assaults in the same hotel room.
Riley knowingly took advantage of his victims’ financial needs. For example, one victim was struggling to afford consistent meals, and another was saving money because he feared being expelled from his family home. During his abuse, Riley provided controlled substances to several of his victims. After Riley provided one victim MDMA and other pills, the victim described drifting in and out of consciousness while Riley abused him. Multiple victims tried to refuse Riley’s sexual advances, but Riley persisted. Riley’s crimes were finally uncovered when he was arrested by DEA at the Los Angeles airport for attempting to traffic methamphetamine into Hawaii. A search of his phone revealed a collection of child sexual abuse material, which prompted his charges.
“This verdict is the next step to holding Darren Riley fully accountable for his egregious pattern of preying upon and abusing children,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We commend the victims who bravely testified at trial despite the trauma they endured from a serial predator. Their testimony, along with the good work of law enforcement and the prosecutors, exposed Riley’s horrific, repeated exploitation. The work of the jury now ensures that Riley will not be a threat to other children in the future. The Department of Justice will continue prosecuting offenders like Riley, as one of the Department’s highest callings is protecting America’s children.”
“Our community is safer now that a Hawaii federal jury has held the defendant accountable for his predatory crimes against children,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The evidence at trial was overwhelming, and the courage the five young victims demonstrated in recounting for the jury their abuse at the hands of Riley was instrumental in putting this child predator behind bars. We will continue to aggressively pursue, charge, and convict predators like Riley that victimize our children and threaten our families.”
“This verdict holds Darren Riley accountable for his egregious pattern of abusing minors in numerous ways,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Protecting children from predators such as Riley is a top priority of the U.S. Department of Justice. The victims who bravely testified in this trial described his outrageous pattern of exploitation, which included enticing vulnerable children with money and drugs, filming himself engaging in sex acts with them, and drugging them to incapacitation with or without their knowledge. We will stop at nothing to hold accountable anyone who preys on our children.”
“The defendant’s heinous acts and repetitive exploitation of victims were put to an end with this verdict,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “This is the direct result of the relentless work of our agents and partners to protect the children in our communities. There is no corner of the internet or crevice on the globe where these predators can hide, as the FBI will use every resource at its disposal to bring them to justice.”
The court has not set Riley’s sentencing yet. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison on particular charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
FBI Honolulu and Los Angeles investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Perlmutter and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Second Man Charged with Murder Relating to Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – A second man, Taliau Tauvela-Afalava, 31 of Aiea, Hawaii, was charged and made his initial appearance in court today for his role in a murder stemming from the victim’s alleged failure to pay for methamphetamine. This superseding indictment adds Tauvela-Afalava as a co-defendant with Filimone Tavake, 38, of San Francisco, whom the grand jury indicted on March 21, 2024 and law enforcement arrested on March 22, 2024.
According to court documents, on March 27, 2021, Tauvela-Afalava and Tavake allegedly killed the victim in connection with a drug distribution conspiracy. The victim was shot multiple times as he was standing outside his home. Video surveillance footage obtained during the investigation showed a vehicle with no license plates driving near the victim’s home shortly before the shooting. Subsequently, the vehicle parked and video captured two males walking toward the street where the victim’s residence was located. A few minutes later, gun shots were heard on the surveillance video, and the same two males were seen running from the direction of the victim’s residence toward the vehicle. Law enforcement identified and located the vehicle seen in the video. A law enforcement analysis connected the vehicle’s infotainment system to phone numbers linked to Tavake and Tauvela-Afalava.
Tauvela-Afalava is charged with carry, use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; causing the death of a person through use of a firearm; killing while engaged in conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
If convicted, Tauvela-Afalava faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii; Special Agent in Charge David K. Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office; and Interim Chief Rade K. Vanic of the Honolulu Police Department made the announcement.
“The Second Superseding Indictment charging Taliau Tauvela-Afalava as the second shooter in the death of victim Malakai Maumalanga demonstrates our firm commitment to investigating and charging the violent crime often associated with drug trafficking,” said United States Attorney Ken Sorenson.
“These allegations underscore the devastating reality that where illegal drugs flow, violence inevitably follows,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “The FBI, alongside our local partners, is committed to protecting our communities by removing the most violent offenders from our streets.”
“The Honolulu Police Department worked closely with the FBI during this investigation,” said Lieutenant Deena Thoemmes, HPD Criminal Investigation Division, Homicide Detail. “We remain committed to partnering with federal authorities to hold those responsible for violent crimes accountable.”
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI and Honolulu Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Nammar and Trial Attorney Christina Taylor (detailee) of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.
Second Man Charged with Murder Relating to Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
A second man, Taliau Tauvela-Afalava, 31 of Aiea, Hawaii, was charged and made his initial appearance in court yesterday for his role in a murder stemming from the victim’s alleged failure to pay for methamphetamine. This superseding indictment adds Tauvela-Afalava as a co-defendant with Filimone Tavake, 38, of San Francisco, whom the grand jury indicted on March 21, 2024 and law enforcement arrested on March 22, 2024.
According to court documents, on March 27, 2021, Tauvela-Afalava and Tavake allegedly killed the victim in connection with a drug distribution conspiracy. The victim was shot multiple times as he was standing outside his home. Video surveillance footage obtained during the investigation showed a vehicle with no license plates driving near the victim’s home shortly before the shooting. Subsequently, the vehicle parked and video captured two males walking toward the street where the victim’s residence was located. A few minutes later, gun shots were heard on the surveillance video, and the same two males were seen running from the direction of the victim’s residence toward the vehicle. Law enforcement identified and located the vehicle seen in the video. A law enforcement analysis connected the vehicle’s infotainment system to phone numberes linked to Tavake and Tauvela-Afalava.
Tauvela-Afalava is charged with carry, use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; causing the death of a person through use of a firearm; killing while engaged in conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
If convicted, Tauvela-Afalava faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division;U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson for the District of Hawaii; Special Agent in Charge David K. Porter of the FBI Honolulu Field Office; and InterimChief Rade K. Vanic of the Honolulu Police Department made the announcement.
The FBI and Honolulu Police Department are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Christina Taylor (detailee) of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Nammar for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Corrections Officer and Mililani Resident Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kenneth Kazuichi Arasato, Jr., 63, of Mililani, Hawaii, was sentenced today to 63 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. Arasato was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to an identified victim.
Arasato, a former corrections officer, pled guilty on August 28, 2025 to a two-count indictment charging him with possession of child pornography. According to information presented to the Court at sentencing, Arasato used an encrypted communications platform and password-protected vault application on his cellular phone to hide his activities. He possessed over 200 images of child pornography, including at least one image that depicted an infant and other images that depicted prepubescent minors.
The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mohammad Khatib prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
California Man Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme Targeting More Than a Dozen VictimsRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Richard Patterson, Jr., 44, of Norco, California, was sentenced yesterday to 68 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to commit wire fraud and failing to appear for a court hearing. Patterson was also ordered to pay $2,030,000 in restitution to more than 15 identified victims.
As admitted in his August 2025 plea agreement, Patterson and his two coconspirators, Dashawn Hill and Judy Ramos, carried on an “advance payment scheme,” wherein they made fraudulent representations to solicit upfront investments of between $5,000 and $550,000 from victims. Patterson and his coconspirators claimed they would use these upfront monies to pay fees for financial products that would generate 200% to 1000% risk-free returns. Patterson and his coconspirators instead used the victims’ money to pay for their living expenses, travel, entertainment, rent, and other personal expenses. According to court documents, Patterson used the money to live a millionaire’s lifestyle, renting a luxury condominium at Ala Moana, buying luxury goods, and enjoying luxury travel. As part of the scheme, Patterson held himself out under the alias “Xavier Carter,” used a fake accent, and claimed to be a foreign national when presenting himself as “Xavier Carter.” Collectively, Patterson and his coconspirators defrauded victims of over $2 million.
A week before his federal fraud trial was set to begin on October 28, 2024, Patterson failed to appear for two in-person court hearings. Patterson ceased communications with his counsel, refused to travel to Hawaii, and then fled the Central District of California, where he was out on bond. Patterson was arrested in the Southern District of California and brought back to Hawaii. His flight led to the continuance of the scheduled trial.
Co-defendants Dashawn Hill and Judy Ramos each also pled guilty pursuant to plea agreements and are scheduled to be sentenced on June 2, 2026 and May 13, 2026, respectively.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted the case.