Puna man charged with attempted distribution of 10 pounds of meth, firearms offenses 

A 32-year-old from Puna was arrested and charged for attempted distribution of 10 pounds of methamphetamine and firearms offenses, Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced Friday.

Jas Dewitt McQuade Cox was arrested after a controlled delivery of a parcel, which originally contained more than 10 pounds of a crystal-like substance that tested presumptive positive by VICE-East officers at a Hawaiian Paradise Park residence on Jan.  20.

According to police reports, VICE-East officers later obtained subsequent search warrants and recovered a black Radical Arms model RF-15 multi caliber rifle with a black cylindrical silencer and two magazines, a black and silver 9mm semiautomatic, unserialized pistol (ghost gun), 9mm and .308 caliber ammunition, a glass smoking pipe and two zip packets with contents that tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine. They also recovered a digital scale.  

Cox made his initial appearance in Hilo District Court on Friday afternoon. His request for a reduction of his $360,000 bail was denied. He was ordered to  appear for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 27.  

Cox is charged with two counts of first degree attempted promoting of dangerous drug and two counts of third degree promoting a dangerous drug.

He also is charged with two counts of ownership or possession of a prohibited firearm (radical firearms semiautomatic rifle and a 9mm semiautomatic ghost gun), ownership prohibited (silencer), ownership prohibited (ghost gun), and two counts of ownership or possession of prohibited ammunition (.308 caliber and 9mm ammunition).  

The most serious offense, first degree attempted promoting a dangerous drug, is a class A felony offense and carries a penalty of either a 20-year prison term or 10 years probation and up to two years in jail. 

The felony narcotics investigation was handled by the VICE-East Section of the Hawai‘i Island Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Elyssa Correia Keltner.