Kona Man Found Guilty of Crystal Meth Distribution

A federal jury in Honolulu yesterday convicted Kali Lotoaiki Laulea of Kailua-Kona on three counts of methamphetamine distribution.

Laulea, 33, was found guilty of distributing five or more grams of pure “Meth” on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 of 2013, and also of distributing more than 50 grams of pure Meth on Aug. 16, 2013.

US District Attorney Florence T. Nakakuni said that at the trial, the evidence presented showed that Laulea knowingly distributed 484 grams of pure Crystal Meth during three separate drug transactions in Kailua-Kona.

The Prince Kuhio Federal Building in Honolulu.

Laulea now faces at least five, and possibly up to 40 years, in prison and a $5 million fine due to the first and second counts, as well as a $10 million fine due to count 3.

Senior U.S. District Judge Alan C. Kay will decide Laulea’s fate when he is sentenced on Dec. 8, 2014.

Laulea’s arrest and subsequent charges were the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, with the assistance of the Hawai`i County Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Agency.