A federal jury today convicted Uiki Teaupa, 42, of Kona, on two drug conspiracy and distribution offenses involving more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
A federal jury today convicted Uiki Teaupa, 42, of Kona, on two drug conspiracy and distribution offenses involving more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
Teaupa faces a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life imprisonment when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright this summer.
Florence T. Nakakuni, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii, said Teaupa made at least eight trips to the mainland between 2009 and 2012, during which he obtained more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine.
Teaupa brought the methamphetamine to Hawaii Island, where another person distributed it. The jury heard three days of testimony, and returned its verdict after a few hours of deliberation. Teaupa has been in custody since his arrest Nov. 2.
Teaupa’s arrest was the result of a two-year joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hawaii County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Nammar.