Acting United States Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson announced that Maliu Tauheluhelu, a 40-year-old resident of Honolulu, has been sentenced to over 16 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake delivered the sentence, which includes 200 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. Tauheluhelu was charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and operating illegal gambling businesses.

Tauheluhelu admitted his involvement with co-defendants Maafu Pani, Touanga Niu, and Desmond Morris in distributing methamphetamine and cocaine between 2020 and 2022 on Oahu and Maui. He also confessed to running illegal gambling operations on Oahu, including one at 980 Queen Street and another at Staxx Sports Bar & Grill in Waianae.

His co-defendants were sentenced earlier in 2024: Pani received a sentence of 192 months, Niu was sentenced to 30 months, and Morris received a sentence of 72 months for their roles in the conspiracy.

“This sentence demonstrates that those who traffic dangerous drugs and operate illegal game rooms will face serious consequences,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Sorenson. “We are committed to holding criminal enterprises accountable and protecting our community from the destruction caused by drugs like methamphetamine.”

FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter remarked on the collaborative efforts among law enforcement agencies: “Yesterday’s sentencing reflects years of collaboration among multiple law enforcement agencies to dismantle a dangerous criminal organization.”

Maui Chief of Police John Pelletier added, “Our collective efforts send a clear and decisive message: criminal enterprises that exploit and endanger our communities should think twice, as there is zero tolerance for such actions.”

The prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aimed at disrupting high-level drug traffickers through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with task force officers from the Maui Police Department. Additional assistance came from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Nammar prosecuted the case.