VIDEO: Bissen open to Seizing Condotels Which Compete with Full-Service ILWU-Controlled Hotels
Enviros Call for Rules to Stop Invasive Bugs
Monsanto court victory in fight over Roundup cancer warnings
Waianae Meth Gang Bust: Feds Again do the Job the State cannot
SA: … Between 1997 and 2001, Caspino allegedly committed “eight separate felonies” at the state level including burglary, robbery and car theft, and received the “benefit of a concurrent 10-year sentence to cover all counts.”
(CLUE: Soft-on-crime State Judiciary fail. Now the feds are on the job. This is why the mafia slogan is ‘Defend Hawaii’. The slogan means ‘keep it local, no feds’.)
Caspino does not have a significant employment history, Albanese wrote, and as of December had filed no tax returns from 2018 to 2020 and claimed a negative income in 2021.
“Despite this lack of verifiable, legitimate income, Caspino has access to significant amounts of cash,” wrote Albanese, noting that federal agents seized more than $468,000 in cash from bank safe deposit boxes and a private residence.
“The source of this cash is very likely the illegal chicken fighting business, the illegal game room business, and/or his drug dealing,” wrote Albanese. “An undercover officer attended a chicken fight event in March 2023 and witnessed hundreds of spectators and thousands of dollars being gambled at this single event, in addition to parking fees, admission fees, and concession fees collected.” ….
According to a memorandum in support of the U.S. Department of Justice’s motion to detain Edward Caspino, on Wednesday morning he allegedly made “several unsolicited statements” to a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent and a state deputy sheriff working as a task force officer during transportation to federal court that authorities said indicate “his danger to the community.”
Caspino allegedly told law enforcement that he had access to and “might be willing to surrender several firearms in exchange for prosecutorial consideration,” including ‘AK choppers,’ which is a slang term for a type of fully-automatic rifle.
(CLUE: This tactic works with State prosecutors.)
“Caspino also mentioned, again without solicitation, the cooperating individual referenced in the criminal complaint, and indicated to the agents that he believed that he knew who he or she was,” according to the memo, filed Thursday. “Caspino stated in substance that ‘You’re going to need (him/her) to testify, huh. If you can find (him/her).’ Based on the context, the statement can reasonably be interpreted as revealing Caspino’s intent to tamper with and/or intimidate a potential government witness,” it said….
The allegations against Caspino, whom federal prosecutors name as the leader of the “Westside” gang, are the product of a joint investigation by the DEA, the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Coast Guard Investigative Service.
Caspino was arrested Tuesday with his brother William, 48; their mother, Lavern Joseph, 71; and Caspino’s wife, Kerilyn Keliinoi-Caspino, 31. They were indicted by a federal grand jury Oct. 26 and pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
William Caspino, Joseph, and Keliinoi-Caspino were released Wednesday on an unsecured $50,000 bond ahead of their trial Jan. 17.
Caspino is also charged in a criminal complaint with three drug sales of “one pound of methamphetamine each” for about $6,500 a pound.
“The deals were captured on audio and video recordings; accordingly, the evidence is strong,” wrote Albanese.
Albanese included screen shots from video footage seized from Caspino’s computer that allegedly shows him stomping on a patron at a game room he allegedly ran….
Nov 7, 2023: Special prosecutor back in Hawaii -- Which politician will he arrest next?
HNN: Prosecutors push to have alleged West Oahu criminal ringleader detained as he awaits trial (hawaiinewsnow.com)
read … Accused Oahu gang leader deemed ‘danger to the community’
HECO Files Financial Reports Addressing Fires & Reducing Community Involvement in Regulatory Proceedings
IM: … “Citizen activism, including civil unrest, especially in times of severe economic depression and social divisiveness, which could negatively impact customers and employees, impair the ability of the Company and the Utilities to operate and maintain their facilities in an effective and safe manner, and citizen or stakeholder activism that could delay the construction, increase project costs or preclude the completion of third-party or Utility projects that are required to meet electricity demand, resilience and reliability objectives and renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and other climate-related goals.”
HEI spent $27.6 million of incremental expenses related to the Maui windstorm and wildfires. Although the report is for the period ending on September 30, the report describes Hawaii Governor Josh Green`s One ‘Ohana Initiative of November 8, 2023.
“The new humanitarian aid fund expected to exceed $150 million, with the “objective to compensate, in an expedited manner, those who have lost loved ones and those who have suffered severe injuries in the Maui windstorm and wildfires. The Initiative provides an alternative to a lengthy and expensive legal process. Beneficiaries are anticipated to receive payments of more than $1 million each as early as the second quarter of 2024.” ….
read … HECO Files Financial Reports Addressing Fires & Reducing Community Involvement in Regulatory Proceedings
Recent embezzlement cases with light sentences raise eyebrows
KHON: … A former Kauai Police Department employee stole more than $74,000 from the department. She was sentenced to 60 days jail time and four years probation.
Earlier this month, former Mililani High school Athletics Director Glenn Nitta pleaded no contest to stealing more than $400,000 from the Booster Club. The judge sentenced him to four years probation….
Big Island police are looking into a theft involving a former employee at Kamehameha Schools.
Authorities said school administrators reported that the worker embezzled over $360,000 over three years.
No arrests have been made, and police aren’t revealing the suspect’s identity at this time ….
read … Recent embezzlement cases with light sentences raise eyebrows
Hawaii Attorney General backs Bill to legalize recreational marijuana
HNN: … Attorney General Anne Lopez has proposed a comprehensive plan designed to overcome hurdles that have blocked legalization for years.
Right now in Hawaii, the only way to buy marijuana legally is from a medical cannabis dispensary.
The attorney general’s plan would encourage the development of a retail recreational marijuana industry while still protecting the medical dispensaries.
Key lawmakers, like House Judiciary Chair David, are impressed with the effort.
Lopez’ 294-page proposal includes a 10% tax surcharge on top of the 4.25% excise tax on adult use marijuana, offers currently Illegal growers a path to joining the legal industry while beefing up law enforcement and bolsters health education programs to protect young people.
State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, Consumer Protection chair, called the plan “the best version to date. And part of it is the efforts to try and address a lot of the issues that came up along the way.”
The program closely follows the Massachusetts model, which pioneered what’s called a social equity program — offering grants and support to illegal growers to help them adopt a traditional retail model and deal with regulation and taxation….
If the dealers don’t go straight, they face a specialized 14-member law enforcement unit.
“It’s going to be a concerted investigative process to ensure that the law is followed,” Lopez said.
The reform proposal comes with its own bureaucracy.
The Hawaii Cannabis Authority would regulate the businesses and a product testing program and enforcement, social equity and health education programs would each have their own staff.
To protect dispensaries, medical cannabis products would be exempt from the 10% tax.
The dispensaries would also most likely be the first to sell recreational pot because they have already passed through the state licensing process….
MM: Hawaii Attorney General Unveils Draft Marijuana Legalization Bill, Drawing Mixed Reactions From Lawmakers And Advocates
PDF: Cannabis Bill Clean Draft
read … Hawaii attorney general issues clear roadmap for legalizing recreational marijuana
Defunct Big Island Tree-Burning Plant Seeks $1 Billion In Damages From Hawaiian Electric
CB: … Lawyers for Hu Honua say in federal court papers that the utility has engaged in illegal anticompetitive behavior….
SA: Litigation rekindled over wood-burning Big Isle power plant
HTH: Honua Ola sues Hawaiian Electric for $1B
read …Defunct Big Island Tree-Burning Plant Seeks $1 Billion In Damages From Hawaiian Electric
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