Hilo man charged with attempted distribution of meth, fentanyl, oxycodone and possession of cocaine, heroin

A 41-year-old Big Island man is facing possession and attempted distribution charges after being arrested earlier this month during a traffic stop in Hilo.

Kory Yoshio Maeda was arrested and charged with several offenses related to the attempted distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl and oxycodone and possession of cocaine and heroin.

Hawai‘i Police Department officers on Sept. 13 stopped Maeda, who was driving a Toyota Tacoma on Kino‘ole Street. Following the stop, VICE officers executed several narcotics search warrants on the vehicle and recovered more than 10 gross grams of meth, 16 oxycodone hydrochloride pills, 14 fentanyl pills, cocaine, heroin, various drug paraphernalia and $4,600 in cash.

Maeda was charged with 11 offenses including first-degree attempted promoting a dangerous drug, two counts of second-degree attempted promoting a dangerous drug, second-degree promoting a dangerous drug, six counts of third-degree promoting a dangerous drug and prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia.

The most serious charge, first-degree attempted promoting a dangerous drug, is a Class A felony punishable by a 20-year prison sentence or 10 years probation and up to 2 years in jail.

Maeda made his initial court appearance Sept. 19 in Hilo District Court. His bail was maintained at $185,000 and he was ordered to appear Oct. 4 for a status hearing.

The traffic stop was conducted by the Hawai‘i Police Department South Hilo Patrol and the felony drug investigation was handled by the department’s Area I VICE Section. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Elyssa Correia Keltner.