Waianae Man Receives 25 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearm Possession

HONOLULU – Brandan Grilho, 37, of Waianae, was sentenced today in federal court by United States District Judge Derrick K. Watson to 20 years imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and a consecutive five years imprisonment for possession of a firearm in connection with his drug trafficking, plus five years on supervised release. Grilho has been detained since his arrest on August 12, 2020.

According to court records, Grilho led a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Waianae from December 2019 to April 2020. During the conspiracy, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) used a confidential informant and an undercover officer to make five controlled purchases of methamphetamine in amounts ranging from one to three ounces from the conspirators. On April 29, 2020, DEA and HPD executed search warrants at two Waianae residences used by conspirators, seizing methamphetamine, two firearms, more than 300 rounds of ammunition, approximately $6,500 cash, and items that subsequently led to the seizure of approximately $10,000 cash from a safety deposit box. Based on the evidence presented by the government, the Court determined that Grilho distributed at least 120 pounds of methamphetamine during the two years prior to the execution of the search warrants.

Codefendants Kanio Aipolanikaaihue and Jaime Wallace were sentenced by Judge Watson to 57 months imprisonment plus three years supervised release on October 21, 2021, and December 7, 2021, respectively. Codefendant Leslie Reyes-Grilho is scheduled for sentencing on April 19, 2022.

This case was the result of an investigation by DEA and HPD with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig S. Nolan is prosecuting the case.