Leonard Gutierrez, 65, of Whittier, California, was sentenced to 340 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to several drug and firearm offenses. The sentencing took place before Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi in Honolulu. Gutierrez has been detained since his arrest on April 9, 2024.
According to the court, Gutierrez was identified as a leader of a trans-Pacific drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting more than 26 kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of fentanyl, and over four kilograms of carfentanil into Hawaii using various methods. The organization also collected thousands of dollars from illegal drug sales.
Carfentanil is described as a tranquilizer for large mammals such as elephants and is about 100 times more potent than fentanyl. Fentanyl itself can be lethal at doses as low as two milligrams.
Gutierrez was among eleven individuals charged across three indictments related to the operation. Nine have pleaded guilty; others are awaiting trial. Authorities seized over 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and more than $150,000 in cash during the investigation.
Other defendants have received sentences ranging from three years to twenty years in prison:
- Shawn Pauahi Santana: sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release for conspiracy and distribution charges.
- Faith Michelle Nelson: sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr.: sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release for similar charges plus firearm possession after a felony conviction.
- Trish Leila Henderson: sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Travis Kalani Hong-Ah Nee: sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release for conspiracy involving carfentanil distribution and ammunition possession after a felony conviction.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from local police departments in Honolulu, Kauai, Maui; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Drug Enforcement Administration; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159. The HSTF coordinates efforts among multiple agencies against criminal cartels and transnational organizations involved in crimes such as drug trafficking and human smuggling within the United States.
"The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad," according to information provided by authorities. "Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations... In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children."
The task force includes agents from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS USMS USPIS HHIDTA along with prosecution led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii.
