Police seek man on outstanding warrants
Police seek man on outstanding warrants
Police are searching for a 32-year-old Puna man wanted on three warrants.
Matthew Keoni Tilfas is wanted on a $1,000 bench warrant for contempt of court, a $150 bench warrant for failure to appear in court and a no-bail warrant for violating terms of supervised release, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
He is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds with short black hair, brown eyes and possibly a mustache and goatee. His last known address was in Hawaiian Acres. He is also known as “Matt” and “Jenning.”
He has several tattoos, including a Bugs Bunny on his back, a large cross and the name “Keoni” on his upper left arm, a series of triangles on his left forearm, a rose and the name “Courtney” on his left inner forearm and the name “TILFAS” on his abdomen.
Police ask anyone with information on his whereabouts call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Kona resident sentenced on gambling charges
U.S. District Court Judge Leslie Kobayashi sentenced Eric Ford, 45, to 20 months in prison Thursday for one count of conducting, directing, managing, owning and supervising an illegal gambling business and three counts of structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements.
Ford pleaded guilty to these offenses on Feb. 21. Florence Nakakuni, U.S. attorney for the Hawaii District, said according to documents filed in connection with the case, from at least November 2009 to November 2012, Ford operated an illegal gambling business out of Aloha Springs Water Co. in Kailua-Kona.
Ford took numerous sports bets over the phone and online, collected gambling debts and paid out gambling winnings. Ford also knew financial institutions are required by law to record cash purchases of money orders and other monetary instruments, totaling $3,000 or more. To avoid this record keeping requirement, Ford structured the purchase of money orders totaling more than $3,000 by purchasing smaller amounts at multiple institutions. Ford structured more than $120,000 between May 2009 and June 2012.
As part of his plea agreement, Ford forfeited $129,566 in cash and a vehicle purchased with proceeds traceable to the illegal gambling business. Ford also forfeited a Rolex watch he received as collateral for a gambling debt owed to him by a bettor. These items were seized Nov. 28, 2012, during search warrants executed at his residence, business and two safe deposit boxes. An additional $66,339 in cash and two vehicles are being forfeited by other defendants in the case.
Besides Ford, seven other individuals were indicted and have pleaded guilty to charges arising out of this case. At sentencing, Kobayashi said Ford was the leader of a sophisticated gambling operation.
The case was a result of a four-year investigation by the Hawaii Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Nammar.
Two killed in Mountain View crash
A 36-year-old Mountain View man and his male passenger died on Wednesday following a one-vehicle crash on North Glenwood Road in Puna.
Responding to a 3:45 p.m. call, Puna Patrol officers determined that a 1999 Honda CRV multi-purpose vehicle was traveling east on North Glenwood Road when it ran off the roadway and struck a utility pole and a tree, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
The driver, who was not wearing a seat beat, was identified as Patrick W. Agcalon of Mountain View. His passenger, who was wearing a seat belt, has yet to be identified.
Police believe speed and alcohol were contributing factors in this crash.
Negligent homicide and coroner’s inquest investigations have been opened and an autopsy ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
This is the 21st traffic fatality on Hawaii Island this year compared with 23 at this time last year.
By local sources