Posted on: Thursday, May 23, 2002

U.S. Attorney aids in cocaine case

By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer

U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo yesterday said his office will aggressively help Big Island officials in a major drug case in which a 34-year-old man was arrested Tuesday carrying up to $100,000 worth of cocaine.

Kubo, Hawai'i County Police Chief James Correa and prosecutor Jay Kimura jointly announced that Big Island resident John James Montoya was charged yesterday with the federal offense of possession of about two kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute.

By making a federal case of the Montoya charges, authorities assured that he will serve at least five years and up to 40 years in prison if convicted. If Montoya had been convicted in state court, Kubo said, he might have gotten probation.

Montoya, of Waiakea Uka, was intercepted and arrested by authorities after his return to Hawai'i from California on Tuesday. Drugs were discovered during a search of his belongings in Hilo, the authorities said.

He remained in federal custody on O'ahu last night, pending a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry M. Kurren on Tuesday.

Kubo said he spent two days last week in Hilo meeting with Hawai'i County prosecutors and police to strengthen working relationships in investigation of narcotics trafficking and violent crimes on the Big Island.

"From now on, the U.S. Attorney's Office will be a visible and equal partner in these important Big Island cases, and narcotic trafficking and firearms offenses will be a joint top law enforcement priority."