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.