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
March 16, 2009
DEFENDANT FACES MANDATORY MINIMUM TERM
OF
25 YEARS IMPRISONMENT AFTER DRUG CONVICTION
A federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Oahu resident Allan Aquino Lafuente (age: 39) for the following crimes:
-One count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine;
-Two counts of distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine;
-One count of possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and
-One count of carrying a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking offense.
These offenses occurred in late 2005 - early 2006. The verdicts came on Friday, March 13, after a four–day trial before District Judge David Alan Ezra, who scheduled sentencing for July 27, 2009.
Edward H. Kubo, Jr., United States Attorney, said that Lafuente faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 25 years, without the possibility of parole. This is because Lafuente had a prior state felony drug conviction and, with the quantity of methamphetamine involved, the mandatory minimum sentence must be at least 20 years, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. In addition, there is a mandatory, consecutive imprisonment sentence of five years for the firearms offense.
According to evidence produced at the trial, on two separate occasions, Lafuente himself distributed or assisted in the distribution of approximately two ounces of methamphetamine to an undercover police officer. On a third occasion, Lafuente met with the undercover officer to sell another two ounces of methamphetamine; however, he was arrested before the transaction took place. During the ensuing search of Lafuente's van, a loaded semi-automatic pistol (with 78 rounds of ammunition) was found hidden behind the seat cushion of the driver's seat.
The prosecution was the result of an investigation by a task force from the High Intensity Drug Task Force Area (HIDTA), composed of law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Honolulu Police Department, and the Sheriff's Division of the State Department of Public Safety. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Kawahara.
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