Kapolei Man Convicted Of Methamphetamine Trafficking
HONOLULU – After a three-day trial in United States District Court in Honolulu, a federal jury today found Ernesto Hernandez, 51, of Kapolei guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess, with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine from April to May, 2013 as well as possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Florence T. Nakakuni, United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii, said that the evidence presented at trial showed that Hernandez agreed with other individuals to distribute methamphetamine that was sent from California, via express mail service, to Honolulu in early May 2013. The evidence also established that Hernandez arranged the shipment of 213 grams of pure methamphetamine which was intercepted at the Honolulu Airport on May 7, 2013 by Federal Express security personnel. Hernandez was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine, with the intent to distribute, when the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at a Kapolei residence on May 8, 2013.
Hernandez faces up to life in prison with a mandatory minimum ten year term of imprisonment when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright on April 28, 2014.
The investigation which resulted in the charges in the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Hawaii Airport Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Inciong handled the prosecution.