Arizona Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Aggravated Role in Fentanyl Conspiracy

News Release from US DoJ, Feb 7, 2022

HONOLULU – Robert Darnell Beal, 41, of Chandler, Arizona, was sentenced in federal court on February 7, 2022, by United States District Judge Derrick K. Watson to 180 months imprisonment for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. On June 25, 2021, Beal was found guilty of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl after a five-day jury trial in Honolulu.

Clare E. Connors, United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii, said the evidence presented in court showed that Beal flew to the Dayton International Airport in Ohio from Phoenix, Arizona, on December 10, 2014, and took possession of over four pounds of fentanyl that was transported from the San Francisco Bay Area to Dayton, Ohio by another individual.

Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) monitoring wiretaps authorized by the United States District Court determined that the fentanyl was being transported to Dayton, Ohio on December 10, 2014 by a drug trafficking organization operating on Maui and in Northern California. The FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration in Ohio, working in conjunction with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, effected a stop of Beal’s taxicab outside the Dayton International Airport and seized 4,007 grams of fentanyl in Beal’s travel bag.

Beal faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 180 months (15 years) imprisonment after the prosecution filed an enhancement alleging a prior federal felony conviction for possessing cocaine base with intent to distribute in the District of New Mexico.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Maui Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and assisted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Muehleck.

---30---

SA: Arizona man sentenced to 15 years in prison for role in fentanyl conspiracy 

According to a third superseding, eight count indictment filed Nov. 18. 2020, Robert Darnell Beal, aka “Oso”, conspired with Pongitini Latu Fonua Jr., aka “Tis” or “Tin”, Vaitaki Manoa Jr., aka “Junior” or “June”, Bernadette Irene Salt, Tasmania Stan Milo, aka “Tas”, Siosifa Koka, aka “Sifa”, Feofaki Vakalahi, aka “Aki”, Kalisitiane Takivalu Oliveti, aka “Taki” and Sione Olevao to possess and sell more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 500 grams of cocaine.

The group was active from at least 2009 to 2019, according to federal court documents.