Feds Taking Over Hilo Drug Case

The federal government is taking over a recent Hilo drug case.

Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced Thursday night, Aug. 18, that the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Hawai‘i, has adopted the prosecution of 29 year-old Mikki Matsuyama and 33 year-old Elias Peace, both of Hilo, following their Aug. 12 arrests for conspiracy to distribute and attempted possession with intent to distribute over 3 pounds of methamphetamine and almost 1,000 fentanyl pills.

On Aug. 15, Matsuyama and Peace appeared for their initial appearance in U.S. Federal District Court before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Wes Reber Porter. Federal prosecutors filed motions requesting that Matsuyama and Peace both be denied bail. On
Thursday, the Court granted prosecutors’ motion to deny Matsuyama’s bail, the prosecutor’s office stated in a news release. As for Peace, a hearing is scheduled for Monday.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between local and federal agencies including the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Area I Vice Section, Hawai‘i County Prosecutors, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Ching.

“Our office will continue to promote and encourage coordination between local, state,
and federal law enforcement agencies to hold drug dealers accountable and prioritize the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the distribution and trafficking of serious drugs, like methamphetamine and fentanyl, on our island,” Waltjen stated in the news release.