Big Island man sentenced to 20 years in prison for heroin, meth, Fentanyl possession

Keoni Patrick Keli‘ima Cassidy, 28 of Keauhou, was sentenced to 20 years for class A felony possession of 103 grams of heroin and other drugs on Monday in Kona Circuit Court on the Big Island.  

On Nov. 18, 2021, Kona Patrol Officer John Harvey was assigned to conduct a welfare check on an unresponsive man, later determined to be Cassidy, who was seated in the driver’s seat of a silver Acura sedan parked outside of the Aloha Island Mart on Henry Street in  Kona.

After officers were given permission to search the Acura, they located 103 grams of heroin, 57 grams of methamphetamine, 12 ½ blue Fentanyl pills, 0.5 grams of cocaine, 37 Suboxone pills, 30 Oxymetholone pills, three vials of testosterone, a 12 gauge Remington shotgun, four boxes of 12 gauge ammunition and drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale.  

“This sentencing demonstrates our Office’s commitment to hold drug dealers accountable  for poisoning our community,” Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen said. “We will continue to  prioritize the prosecution and investigation of those who distribute dangerous drugs including  methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin.”

Harvey and Det. Kelsey Kobayashi of the Area II Vice Section led the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kauanoe Jackson.