The man accused of supplying an alleged drug distribution ring in Hawaii with nearly 400 pounds of methamphetamine is a former member of a California street gang who shot and killed a member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang who tried to extort money from him, according to California state court records.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment in May charging Walter Dominguez, 40, of Carson, Calif., and 13 others with conspiracy and distributing 390 pounds of methamphetamine from 2008 to 2012.
One of the other defendants, Sifatutupu Fuamatu, was a prison guard at the state Women’s Community Correctional Center at the time. Fuamatu was also a Delta Airlines employee. She and her husband, Falefia Fuamatu, are facing charges that they transported hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds to Dominguez in California from Hawaii.
The confessed leader of the distribution ring, John Tai, who is not charged in the May indictment, pleaded guilty in April and is cooperating with the government.
A federal judge in California ordered Dominguez held in custody without bail after his arrest in Los Angeles in March. The judge made note of a prior drug conviction, Dominguez’s continued drug activity, his ties to a Mexican drug cartel and that he travels often to Mexico where family members supply him with methamphetamine in California.
Federal investigators said in court documents that Dominguez threatened and intimidated some of his co-defendants as they were awaiting transport to U.S. District Court in May from the Federal Detention Center Honolulu. Investigators say that Dominguez told his co-defendants, "Fools is going to get laid down," and, "I need to know, either you are with me or not. Don’t say anything if you not."
Investigators also said Dominguez asked Tai why he pleaded guilty.
Dominguez had asked the court to release him into the custody of his wife pending trial and provided the court property information of friends and relatives willing to co-sign and post bond for his release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin S.C. Chang denied the request Feb. 15.
Dominguez pleaded guilty in California Superior Court in Los Angeles in November 2002 to conspiring to sell cocaine in exchange for a five-year probation sentence and suspended three-year prison term.
In November 2006, Dominguez shot and killed Anthony Gurule, a member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang who went to his home in Carson to collect "taxes" from him for his drug dealing, according to California state court records. The state granted Dominguez immunity from prosecution for the guns and cocaine police found in his home after the shooting, in exchange for his testimony against the two men who accompanied Gurule to his home.
According to evidence presented at trial, Dominguez shot Gurule after one of the other men dropped his gun, causing it to discharge.
A California state jury found the two other men guilty in July 2008 of attempting to extort and murder Dominguez, of murder for provoking Gurule’s death, arson for burning down Dominguez’s home and for intimidating Dominguez, who was a witness to their extortion, attempted murder and murder.
Dominguez’s house burned down in January 2007 after three smaller fires in November and December 2006 caused damage to the structure.
