Hilo man sentenced to 10 years on 5 felony drug, firearms charges in connection with 2022 Keaukaha drug bust

A Hilo man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday in connection with a drug and firearms case in which more than 18 pounds of methamphetamine and several firearms were recovered 2 years ago from a residence in the Keaukaha area of Hilo.

The Hawai’i County prosecuting attorney’s office said 36-year-old Seth Spidell was sentenced on 5 felony charges in Hilo Circuit Court.

Spidell pleaded guilty Sept. 12 to:

• Second-degree promoting a dangerous drug.
• Second-degree attempted promoting a dangerous drug.
• 2 counts of ownership or possession prohibited.
• 1 count of manufacturing, purchasing or obtaining firearm parts to assemble a firearm having no serial number.

Second-degree promoting a dangerous drug, second-degree attempted promoting a dangerous drug and ownership or possession prohibited are all Class B felonies, punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Despite prosecutors arguing for a 15-year sentence, the court ordered the sentences be served concurrently for a total of 10 years.

Officers with Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Vice Section executed a narcotics and firearms search warrant April 21, 2022, at the Kauhane Avenue residence in Keaukaha and recovered:

• More than 18 pounds of methamphetamine.
• A 9-mm Ingram MAC 10 semi-automatic pistol.
• 2 unserialized 9-mm semi-automatic handguns.
• A 30-round high-capacity pistol magazine.
• Ammunition.
• 3 digital scales.
• A high-speed bill counter.
• More than $13,000.

The investigation was handled by members of the Hawaiʻi Police Department Area I Vice Section. Tthe case was prosecuted by the Hawaiʻi County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Elyssa Correia Keltner.

“Drugs continue to be one of the primary motivations for criminal activity on Hawai‘i
Island,” said Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen. “Our office will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of those who deal drugs and poison our community.”