Court briefs

Advertiser Staff

Officer pleads not guilty

A Honolulu police officer pleaded not guilty in federal court yesterday to five counts of illegally distributing a drug containing human growth hormone.

Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren set a tentative court date of July 29 before federal Judge David Ezra for Eddie Belluomini, 32, who is accused of selling the drug Serostim five times between November and May.

Belluomini was arrested May 23 and released Wednesday on a $50,000 signature bond. He was placed on leave without pay by the Honolulu Police Department on Friday.

Belluomini faces a maximum term of five years in prison on each count if convicted.

Collision leads to theft, drug charges

A 35-year-old man involved in a traffic collision Saturday in Hawai'i Kai has been charged with auto theft, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Travis Naeole was charged after being treated for injuries at The Queen's Medical Center. His bail was set at $35,000.

Kaua'i man found guilty in drug case

A federal court jury yesterday found a Kaua'i man guilty of conspiring to import more than 50 grams of methamphetamine into the United States.

Douglas Christian, 49, of Kapa'a, was also found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute the methamphetamine and attempted possession with the intent to distribute the illicit drug.

U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo said the case involved efforts by Christian to import more than 264 grams of methamphetamine to his home in Kapa'a using a private, express mail courier.

Kubo said the drug was packed in six small bundles inserted into four bags of corn nuts that had a strong garlic smell. He said Christian faces a jail term of 20 years to life and a maximum fine of $8 million. Christian's codefendants, Lovina and Daniel Farmer, and Donna Christian, are scheduled to go to trial next month.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Beverly Wee Sameshima prosecuted the case.