A pretrial conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. today in Honolulu federal court for the eight Kaua‘i residents accused of leading an international methamphetamine-trafficking ring. The case was continued from Nov. 13, and is scheduled to be heard in front
A pretrial conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. today in Honolulu federal court for the eight Kaua‘i residents accused of leading an international methamphetamine-trafficking ring.
The case was continued from Nov. 13, and is scheduled to be heard in front of Judge Barry Kurren.
According to the indictment, law enforcement believe the accused in the case were trafficking the drug from the Philippines to Kaua‘i; O‘ahu to Kaua‘i; and Sacramento, Calif., to O‘ahu and Kaua‘i.
The Kaua‘i defendants named in the case are: Edward Cachola, 41; David Marcial Lane, 38; Desmond Dwight Mundon, 32; Summer Keala Ebesu, 25; Santiago Corpuz Leones Jr., 45; Wanda Lynn Oshiro, 41; Leann Pualani Fu, 43; and Sheena Gail Semana, 24.
Two O‘ahu residents also are being tried in the case. They all face conspiracy to distribute, possession with intent to distribute and other methamphetamine trafficking crimes.
Some 14 federal, state and county agencies participated in the bust that led to the 10 arrests, which U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo said yielded 6 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of nearly $250,000.
Electronic federal court records further allege that in June, a UPS parcel with 376 grams of 25 percent pure methamphetamine — yielding 92 grams of actual “ice” — was shipped to a Lihu‘e address which was later distributed in July.
The records also allege that on July 11, Cachola traveled to Sacramento, where he examined roughly two pounds of ice, or 887 grams of 46 percent pure methmaphetamine, yielding 425 grams, and that on July 14 he possessed 325 grams of the drug on Kaua‘i.
Kubo has said alleged ring-leader Cachola faces mandatory life imprisonment if convicted. Cachola has two prior felony convictions.
Trial for this case is scheduled to begin Dec. 11 in U.S. District Court.
• Amanda C. Gregg, assistant editor/staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or agregg@kauaipubco.com.
