A Waianae man, Edward Caspino, 47, received a 14-year prison sentence for distributing methamphetamine and running an illegal gambling business. U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright handed down the sentence in federal court and ordered Caspino to forfeit his interest in over $600,000 in cash and a 10-acre property in Waianae used for illegal activities.
Caspino was involved in distributing a total of three pounds of methamphetamine in July 2021. Additionally, he organized and conducted large-scale illegal chicken fighting events on his property from February 2021 to March 2023, attracting numerous participants and spectators who placed bets on the fights.
Caspino is the first among six conspirators in the illegal gambling operation to be sentenced. His co-defendants, William Caspino, Lavern Joseph, Kerilyn Caspino, and Fausto Aragon, Jr., have pled guilty to related charges, while Howard Unebasami was convicted by a jury following a trial in March 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson stated that Caspino's sentence is a warning against running illegal gambling businesses. He emphasized the efforts of federal authorities to combat community violence and drug trafficking linked to such operations.
Anthony Chrysanthis from the DEA highlighted the ongoing threat of methamphetamine to community safety and the agency's commitment to intercepting drug suppliers. HSI Special Agent Lucy Cabral-DeArmas reiterated the commitment to fighting illegal narcotics and gambling operations. FBI Special Agent David Porter stressed the determination to use all available resources to dismantle drug trafficking organizations.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation, which collaborates across agencies to target top-level criminal organizations in the United States. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the DEA, HSI, FBI, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the Honolulu Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted the case.
