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Jury convicts Kailua-Kona man of dealing meth

A federal jury has found a Big Island man guilty of dealing methamphetamine.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Hawaii says Kali Lotoaiki Laulea was convicted Tuesday after a five-day trial. Jurors found the 33-year-old from Kailua-Kona guilty of three counts of meth distribution.

U.S. Attorney for Hawaii Florence Nakakuni says Laulea distributed about a pound of pure crystal meth over the course of three drug transactions in Kailua-Kona last year. Prosecutors say the street value for a pound of crystal meth last year in Kailua-Kona was about $35,000.

He faces up to life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 8.

Defense attorney Richard Gronna declined to comment Wednesday.

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