HILO — A 42-year-old Hilo man is accused of receiving a Federal Express package that contained more than a pound of crystal methamphetamine, or “ice,” packed inside the toy head of a “Sesame Street” character — and then attempting to torch the parcel as authorities closed in to arrest him.
Maximillian Oleksiak is charged with two counts of first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, Class A felonies that carry a possible 20-year prison term, plus tampering with physical evidence and fourth-degree arson, both misdemeanors.
“Hawaii Police Department seized a FedEx parcel containing 458.1 grams of methamphetamine, much more than would be for personal use. Police assumed that is a dealership quantity,” Deputy Prosecutor Glenn Shiigi told Hilo District Judge Harry Freitas at Oleksiak’s initial court appearance on Tuesday.
Freitas maintained Oleksiak’s bail at $102,000 and ordered him to return at 2 p.m. today for a preliminary hearing.
According to court documents filed by police, the parcel, which had “suspicious indicators,” was flagged at a FedEx sorting facility. A search warrant was obtained, and the package was fitted with a mobile-tracking device.
After Oleksiak allegedly signed for the package and picked it up, police traced it to a Ponahawai Street home.
When officers arrived at the home, the parcel was aflame, damaging both the tracking device, which is valued at $500, and the plastic “Cookie Monster” head reportedly inside the parcel, according to documents.
Documents state Oleksiak has no prior felony convictions, but Shiigi said he was convicted of misdemeanor drug charges in California in 1997 and 2009.
He remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
