Hawai‘i Island man pleads guilty in federal court to firearm offenses

A man from Mountain View pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Vernon Santiago, 45, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Jill Otake, where he was granted release on an unsecured $50,000 bond until he is sentenced on April 22, 2026. According to court minutes, Santiago was granted travel between the Big Island and O‘ahu for court purposes only.

In January 2024, law enforcement executed a state search warrant at Santiago’s residence, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. After law enforcement announced their presence, Santiago jumped out of a window while carrying a backpack and fled.

The 45-year-old then threw the backpack into the bushes in an attempt to conceal it from law enforcement. The backpack contained two firearms, a stolen Colt Government Model .45 caliber pistol and a Ruger P85 9mm pistol, along with ammunition and magazines.

Santiago faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a three-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

According to court records, Santiago has a prior federal felony conviction from 2005 for unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition as an unlawful user of controlled substances, for which he was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Hawai‘i Police Department.

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.

Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.