Gang Member and Accomplice Sentenced for Robbery of Illegal Game Room in Waianae

News Release from US DoJ, Sept 14, 2022

HONOLULU – Senior United States District Judge Susan Oki Mollway today sentenced two defendants, Makoa K.F. Wilson, 27, and Jessica R. Lorrin 31, both of Oahu, for their role in the robbery of an illegal game room in Waianae, Oahu, in July 2020. Judge Mollway sentenced Wilson to 94 months’ imprisonment, and sentenced his accomplice, Lorrin, to 54 months’ imprisonment. Both defendants had previously pleaded guilty to the Hobbs Act robbery charge against them.

According to court documents and information presented in court, in the early morning hours of July 15, 2020, Wilson and Lorrin robbed an illegal gambling establishment operating out of a single-story residence on Keaulana Avenue in Waianae, Oahu. During the robbery, Wilson raised and pointed what appeared to be a handgun in the direction of a cashier and demanded all of the money in the cashier’s office. When the cashier complied with the demand, Lorrin questioned why there was so little money, and then took the keys for electronic gambling machines and began collecting the cash from those machines. Wilson and Lorrin then made their escape in a white Yukon vehicle. About a month later, on August 18, 2020, Wilson and Lorrin were stopped in that same vehicle, at which time Wilson was found to be in possession of a privately made firearm—commonly referred to as a “ghost gun”—and a quantity of methamphetamine. In the time period of these events, Wilson was a member of a gang called “Murder Inc.”

“Illegal gambling gives rise to many problems in our community, including violent crime perpetrated by gang members and involving firearms,” said United States Attorney Clare E. Connors. “Ghost guns in particular present a threat to Hawaii and are increasingly showing up in our investigations, which we will continue to pursue in earnest.”

“The Honolulu Police Department is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to make Oahu safer for everyone, and we are pleased that these dangerous individuals were taken off the street,” said Chief Joe Logan.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. 

Homeland Security Investigations and the Honolulu Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Micah Smith handled the prosecution. 

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