Kona man indicted on drug, firearm charges following joint local, federal narcotics investigation

A man from Kailua-Kona was indicted on various offenses after narcotics search warrants on a vehicle and residence led to the discovery of loaded firearms as well as suspected cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana.

Luis Pagano Colon was initially arrested in April after the Hawai‘i Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Federal Bureau of Investigation collaborated on a narcotics investigation and executed the warrants on April 22.

According to police reports, HPD VICE-West officers recovered the following items from within a Mazda sedan that was operated by Colon:

• 4.7 ounces of a substance that tested presumptive positive for cocaine
• 1.1 ounces of a substance that tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine
• A loaded 9mm Taurus GX2 pistol with a high-capacity magazine
• A second high-capacity magazine, and additional live 9mm
• 12-gauge shotgun ammunition

Officers also recovered the following from an Ikenanani Place residence:

• A .40 caliber Glock pistol with three high-capacity magazines, including two 50-round drum magazines, various ammunition
• More than one pound of a substance that tested presumptive positive for marijuana
• More than two pounds of a substance that tested presumptive positive for marijuana were recovered from within a Dodge Challenger that was parked within the driveway of the residence.

Following his arrest, Colon made his initial appearance in Kona District Court on April 27. Over the Prosecutors’ objections, the Court granted Colon’s request for a bail reduction, lowering his bail from $288,000 to $150,000, which was posted.

On Wednesday, May 13, Colon appeared in Kona Circuit Court for a return on the Indictment warrant. A jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 8.

As the Indictment alleges, Colon is charged with the following:

• Three counts of first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug
• First-degree promotion of a detrimental drug
• Second-degree commercial promotion of marijuana
• Ownership or possession of firearm prohibited
• Two counts of ownership prohibited (high-capacity magazine)
• Place to keep ammunition
• Place to keep pistol or revolver
• Carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway
• Possession of a firearm with intent to facilitate the commission of a felony drug offense.

The most serious offense, Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Facilitate the Commission of a Felony Drug Offense is a class A felony that carries a penalty of a 20-year prison term. Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the First Degree is also a class A felony offense, but carries a penalty of either a 20-year prison term or 10 years probation and up to two years in jail.