HONOLULU — A Kaua‘i resident was convicted on charges of firearms trafficking and possession in federal court in Honolulu last week, according to a press release from the office of the Hawai‘i district of the United States Department of Justice.
HONOLULU — A Kaua‘i resident was convicted on charges of firearms trafficking and possession in federal court in Honolulu last week, according to a press release from the office of the Hawai‘i district of the United States Department of Justice.
U.S. Attorney Edward H. Kubo Jr. said in the release Leones was convicted Thursday, after a four-day trial, of conspiring to barter and bartering three firearms, a .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver, .38 caliber Charter Arms revolver, and a .38 caliber Bellmore-Johnson Tool Company derringer, for methamphetamine.
Leones was also convicted of unlawful possession (as a felon) of the same three firearms, and, possession of methamphetamine, the release said. Leones’ co-defendant, Reynaldo Sembrano Jr., also from Kaua‘i, previously pled guilty in November 2008 to bartering one of the firearms for methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.
The charges against Leones and Sembrano arose from a federal investigation of California methamphetamine trafficker Dennis McHugh Jr. Last year, McHugh and a third Kaua‘i resident, Stuart Merkel, were convicted of conspiracy to distribute approximately two pounds of methamphetamine on Kaua‘i in May 2007.
Evidence presented at Leones’ trial showed that Leones and Sembrano traded the three firearms to McHugh for approximately one-half ounce of methamphetamine.
Leones faces up to 20 years imprisonment for the conspiracy offense, up to 10 years imprisonment on the felon-in-possession offense, up to two years imprisonment on the methamphetamine offense, and a mandatory minimum term of five years imprisonment on the bartering offense, which must run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment.
Chief United States District Judge Helen Gillmor set Leones’ sentencing for May 7.
Sembrano and McHugh are each awaiting sentencing. Merkel was sentenced in October 2008 to a prison term of 127 months.
The investigation in this matter was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Kaua‘i Police Department, the release said. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lou Bracco.
