U.S. Attorney Kenji M. Price Announces Progress in Making our Communities Safer Through Project Safe Neighborhoods

One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  Throughout the past year, the U.S Attorney’s Office has partnered with numerous law enforcement entities to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer.

“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said.  “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs.  I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face.  Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”  

“This U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to place the safety and security of our communities at the forefront of its enforcement efforts,” stated U.S. Attorney Kenji M. Price.  “In collaboration with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we are working to rid communities in Hawaii of drug dealers and violent offenders.  We are strategically focusing our resources on high crime areas, and using the many tools available to federal, state, and local law enforcement to strike a substantial blow to those who endanger our communities through violence.  Our message is clear – criminals will not find refuge in Hawaii.”

Enforcement Actions

As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, numerous individuals were charged in the District of Hawaii with federal crimes that involve violence (including firearms offenses) or illegal drugs. Law enforcement officers have seized multiple firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, in addition to significant quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. 

Here are two examples of our enforcement efforts:

• Beginning August 29, 2018, a joint enforcement initiative between Honolulu Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) resulted in the arrest of 14 individuals who were charged with distribution of narcotics within 1,000 feet of Aala Park, a frequented playground in Honolulu.
• On August 30, 2018, Shane Durante pled guilty to conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.   Durante admitted that he imported multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine from the mainland.  Durante’s supplier, Eugene Lee, also pled guilty, and admitted that he had shipped multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine from Las Vegas to Durante on Oahu.  Law enforcement recovered 2,411.60 grams of pure methamphetamine, as well as two firearms and ammunition.

As demonstrated by the above, our law enforcement community is working diligently to protect our communities from the scourge of violence and drug addiction.

Improvements to Community Safety

Nationwide, the law enforcement community’s efforts are also bearing fruit, and importantly, reversing a recent trend of rising violent crime rates.  Notably, the FBI’s official crime data for 2017 reflects that, after two consecutive, historic increases in violent crime, in the first year of the Trump Administration the nationwide violent crime rate began to decline.  The nationwide violent crime rate decreased by approximately one percent in 2017, while the nationwide homicide rate decreased by nearly one and a half percent.

The preliminary information we have for 2018 gives us reason for optimism that our efforts are continuing to pay off.  Public data from 60 major cities show that violent crime was down by nearly five percent in those cities in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period a year ago.

This data reveals what we in the law enforcement community know: by working together, side-by-side, to carry out a comprehensive crime-reduction initiative, we can reduce violent crime and keep our communities safe.  We will continue to build upon our efforts to combat violent crime and drug abuse in our communities by enforcing the law, and look for effective ways to prevent crime by forging strong partnerships with governmental and non-governmental entities dedicated to crime-prevention.  Learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.