News

HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Vernon Santiago, 45, of Mountain View, Hawaii, pled guilty yesterday in federal court to possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon and an unlawful user of controlled substances.  

HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Darrel Goo, 52, of Keaau, Hawaii, and Cy Tamura, 45, of Hilo, Hawaii, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint yesterday with multiple fireworks-related criminal offenses, including transporting fireworks into Hawaii.

HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Heidi Cafirma, 50, of Waipahu, Hawaii, pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns and wire fraud related to her fraudulent application for unemployment assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HONOLULU – The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. 

HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Lynden David Lightburn, 52, of Los Angeles, California was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jill A. Otake to 72 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Faith Michelle Nelson, 52, of Kauai, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 151 months’ imprisonment followed by 5 years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr., 52, of Kauai, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to a total of 210 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.

HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Jess Kiesel Lee, 43, of Kula, Maui, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake to 40 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release for possessing, as a convicted felon, explosive powder.

HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Elias David, 37, of Waimanalo, Hawaii, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on December 3, 2025 with producing child pornography.

HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Shane Takasane, 43, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A. S. Park to three years of probation for selling illegally-caught Hawaiian yellow tang and kole tang, in violation of the Lacey Act. 

HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced today that Sidney Campbell, 45, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was charged yesterday by criminal complaint with illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.

HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Robert Morris, 49, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint yesterday with assaulting a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.