100 fugitives nabbed on Maui
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
A task force organized in March arrested about 100 fugitives wanted on federal and state warrants in connection with felony offenses in a two-week sweep on Maui believed to be the largest joint law-enforcement operation ever on a Neighbor Island.
The U.S. Marshals Service's Hawai'i Fugitive Task Force, which used 15 to 20 out-of-county members, and Maui Police Department officers completed the sweep over the weekend.
Alan Alika Vegas, top, and Elvis Matagi were among the fugitives captured by the task force on Maui.
Mark "Dutch" Hanohano, U.S. marshal for the Hawai'i district, confirmed the task force was involved in a recently completed operation on Maui but declined to provide specific details. U.S. Attorney for Hawai'i Ed Kubo has scheduled a news conference today on the Maui operation.
Alan Alika Vegas, Elvis Matagi and Keoki A. Astronomo were among the fugitives captured by the task force on Maui. Vegas and Matagi were wanted on state warrants and both have convictions for firearm offenses. Astronomo was charged last week in federal court for allegedly possessing 2 ounces of crystal methamphetamine for distribution.
The task force is made up of U.S. Marshals personnel, 18 to 20 state sheriffs deputies, 12 to 15 investigators from the prosecuting attorney's office of all four counties and police on all islands except O'ahu, said Michael Ferstl, Hanohano's chief deputy. The state attorney general's office is considering assigning investigators to the task force, Ferstl added.
The Honolulu Police Department declined to participate because of a requirement that some personnel be assigned to the task force permanently, said Deputy Chief Paul Putzulu through spokeswoman Michelle Yu. HPD, however, is willing to assist the task force if needed, Yu said.
Ferstl began laying the groundwork in February 2002 to create a fugitive task force here because the Hawai'i district, which covers the Pacific region, was the only one of the U.S. Marshal Services' 94 districts that did not have such a unit.
"The philosophy of this task force is designed specifically to target career criminals who are out there continuing to commit crimes," Ferstl said. "They have extensive criminal records and the recidivism rate appears to be higher in Hawai'i."
The task force was activated in March 2003 and has been arresting fugitives on all islands.
"The first 48 individuals targeted have over 570 combined felony arrests and over 500 misdemeanor arrests for a total of over 1,070 arrests," Ferstl said.
"From the 48 individuals, we took more than 13 handguns and rifles and over 4 pounds of ice off the street," he said. "They are targeted because of criminal history. It's apparent these are individuals who are not being rehabilitated."
One avenue open to the task force is federal prosecution. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assist the task force in preparing complaints for federal prosecution but are not as involved in the field operations.
"Whenever we can, we try to get (the fugitives) charged with federal offenses to get them permanently off the street," Ferstl said. "If you're caught with a gun and drugs, you can be charged federally. The majority of those charged (in the federal system) are facing 30 years to life."
The first task force arrest in March was of Hawaiian-rights activist Nathan Brown, who was convicted of federal tax fraud in 1991 and disappeared in1993 after losing his appeal. He was arrested in Mountain View on the Big Island on March 7.
Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.
