Press Release
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of Hawaii
PJKK Federal Building (808) 541-2850
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 6-100 FAX (808) 541-2958
Honolulu, Hawaii 96850
For Immediate Release
Contact: Elliot Enoki
July 14, 2008
HONOLULU MAN FACES LIFE IMPRISONMENT UPON CONVICTION OF METHAMPHETAMINE TRAFFICKING
A federal district court jury found FRANCIS KALANI LII, age 44, guilty of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and methamphetamine distribution on July 14, 2008. By virtue of prior convictions in state court in Hawaii in 1991 for promoting a dangerous drug - cocaine, and in federal court in Hawaii in 1997 for conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and for distributing cocaine, LII faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment on each charge when he is sentenced on November 6, 2008 before Chief United States District Judge Helen Gillmor.
Edward H. Kubo, Jr., United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii, said that according to information produced in court, LII used a co-conspirator to act as a runner and deliver quantities of crystal methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on two occasions, and then to an undercover law enforcement officer on three occasions in 2006 and 2007. On December 21, 2006, LII and a co-conspirator delivered approximately six ounces of crystal methamphetamine to an undercover deputy sheriff in the Ala Moana Shopping Center parking lot.
The case was investigated by agents of the FBI, assisted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Honolulu Police Department, and the State of Hawaii Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas C. Muehleck handled the prosecution.
###