Kona man convicted of meth distribution

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A federal jury in Honolulu found Kali Lotoaiki Laulea, 33, of Kailua-Kona guilty Wednesday today after a five day trial in United States District Court.

A federal jury in Honolulu found Kali Lotoaiki Laulea, 33, of Kailua-Kona guilty Wednesday today after a five day trial in United States District Court.

Laulea was convicted of three counts of methamphetamine distribution specifically for distributing five or more grams of pure methamphetamine on Aug. 1, and Aug. 2, 2013, respectively, and also of distributing 50 or more grams of pure methamphetamine on Aug. 16, 2013.

U.S. District Attorney Florence T. Nakakuni said evidence presented at trial showed that Laulea knowingly distributed a total of 484 grams of pure crystal methamphetamine over the course of three drug transactions that Laulea conducted in

Kailua-Kona.

Laulea faces between five and 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine for counts one and two of the indictment and between 10 years and life in prison and a $10 million fine for count three when he is sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Alan C. Kay on Dec. 8.