Jury Finds California Man Guilty Of Attempted Methamphetamine Trafficking On Kauai

HONOLULU – A federal jury found Roman Gabriel Contreras, 44, of Ontario, California, guilty on Monday, July 6, after a three day trial in United States District Court in Honolulu. Contreras was found guilty of attempted possession with intent to distribute of more than 500 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine on Kauai on March 24, 2015.

Florence T. Nakakuni, United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii, said that evidence presented at trial showed that Contreras, utilizing a false name, flew to Lihue airport from Los Angeles International airport on March 24, 2015 with three plastic containers hidden in baggage checked under the fictitious name. Evidence also established that the three containers which held almost three pounds of pure methamphetamine, were discovered after Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents executed a search warrant on March 25th on Contreras’ bags. Evidence also showed that Contreras attempted to avoid a DEA agent and Kauai Police Department Officers after he deplaned the California flight at Lihue airport.

Contreras, who has a prior state felony drug conviction for promoting methamphetamine, faces up to life in prison, with a mandatory minimum 20-year term of imprisonment when he is sentenced by District Judge Derrick K. Watson on October 21, 2015.

The investigation which resulted in the charge in the case was conducted by DEA and the Kauai Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Muehleck.