Hilo men face theft charges after series of fraudulent credit card transactions

Two men from Hilo are facing theft charges in connection with a series of fraudulent credit card transactions that occurred at multiple businesses in the Hilo area in June.

Hawai‘i Island police first received a report on June 27 that a 50-year-old man from Mountain View had misplaced his wallet in the Kurtistown area late the day before. Shortly afterward, the victim discovered more than $3,000 in unauthorized charges on his credit card, according to a news release from police on Friday.

Officers with the Area I Crime Reduction Unit initiated an investigation and conducted follow-ups at several Hilo businesses where the fraudulent transactions had occurred. Detectives obtained surveillance video that captured the transactions and identified two suspects as 37-year-old Sonny Vierra and 54-year-old Elliott Kaimi Sr.

On July 1, Crime Reduction Unit officers located and arrested Vierra. During the arrest, officers recovered numerous items that had been purchased using the victim’s stolen credit card.

Vierra was ultimately charged with the following:

• Second-degree theft
• Fraudulent use of a credit card
• Third-degree identity theft
• Fourth-degree theft

Vierra’s bail was set at $15,100. He made his initial court appearance in Hilo District Court and was granted supervised release.

On July 7, Crime Reduction Unit officers located and arrested Kaimi Sr. He was charged with the following offenses:

• Three counts of second-degree theft
• Third-degree theft
• Fourth-degree theft
• Three counts of second-degree identity theft
• Third-degree identity theft
• Five counts of fraudulent use of a credit card
• Unauthorized possession of confidential personal information

Kaimi Sr.’s bail was set at $374,000. Following his initial appearance in Hilo District Court, Kaimi Sr. was ordered held and remains in custody at the Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed these incidents or who has any relevant information, to please contact the Area I Crime Reduction Unit at 808-961-8222.