Police have arrested and charged 21 visitors from out-of-state for allegedly violating the state’s mandatory emergency 14-day quarantine order related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday afternoon, following up on tips from the public and on social media, five men and three women were arrested at a Pikake Street Home in the Fern Forest subdivision of Puna. Also arrested was the homeowner, 42-year-old Tylea Fuhrmann of Mountain View, for allegedly illegally operating a short-term vacation rental during the emergency.
Her bail was set at $2,000.
On Thursday morning, police arrested six women and seven men at a Railroad Avenue home in Hawaiian Paradise Park, including Eligio Lee Bishop, a 38-year-old Georgia man and self-professed cult leader of the “Carbon Nation,” who also is known as “Nature Boy.” He was charged with two counts of violating the quarantine order.
His bail was set at $4,000.
According to police, the address some of the individuals were arrested at wasn’t the address they declared to officials upon arrival in the state. Additionally, some were seen at a beach park in Hilo on the day they arrived.
The Tribune-Herald couldn’t immediately confirm if any of the others arrested are members of the Carbon Nation or followers of Bishop.
In addition to Fuhrmann, the individuals arrested Wednesday in Fern Forest are identified as:
• Shenise Crystal Gould, 29, of Aberdeen Md., one count, $2,000 bail;
• Brianna Jacobs of Georgia, one count, $2,000 bail;
• Jayon-Marie Hamilton, 22, of Lynwood, Calif., two counts, $4,000 bail;
• Jacob Daniel Benton, 24, of California, two counts, $4,000 bail;
• Ishmael Goodwine, 21, of Orangeburg, S.C., one count, $4,000 bail;
• Armon Palmer, 20, of Waterloo, Iowa, one count, $2,000 bail;
• Denedric Raione Johnson, 23, of Fort Worth, Texas, one count, $2,000 bail;
• Jazz Lee, 23, of Florida, one count, $2,000 bail.
In addition to Bishop, the individuals arrested Thursday in HPP are identified as:
• Amaar Jawaid, 19, of Chicago, one count, $2,000 bail;
• Logan Leathers, 26, of Trenton, Maine, one count, $2,000 bail;
• Malcolm Gadson, 39, of Philadelphia, one count, $2,000 bail;
• Courtney Pete Townsend, 25 of Powder Springs, Ga., one count, $2,000 bail;
• Aaron Alton Dixon, 31 of Butler, Ga., one count, $2,000 bail;
• Daylin Jerome Michael Armstead, 25, of Aberdeen, Md., one count, $2,000 bail;
• Porchae Cheriea Wade, 33, of Hesperia, Calif., two counts, $4,000 bail;
• Tinisha Dulay, 22, of New Orleans, two counts, $4,000 bail;
• Jenae Alexandrea Newell, 25, of Lithonia, Ga., two counts, $4,000 bail;
• Kayla Buckner, 22, of Greenbrier, Tenn., one count, $2,000 bail;
• Nikkia Canada Nunes, 27, of Colorado Springs, Colo., one count, $2,000 bail;
• Sybil Ferere, 39, of Woodhaven, N.Y. one count, $2,000 bail.
For those who did not post bail, their initial court appearances are scheduled for today in Hilo District Court.
All the charged offenses are misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine upon conviction.