Oahu Man Sentenced to Over 16 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking And Illegal Gambling Charges

News Release from U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Hawaii, Friday, January 24, 2025

HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson announced that Maliu Tauheluhelu, 40, of Honolulu, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake to 200 months of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and conspiring to operate illegal gambling businesses. Tauheluhelu pleaded guilty to two counts of an Indictment on February 15, 2024.

Tauheluhelu admitted to conspiring with his co-defendants, Maafu Pani, Touanga Niu, and Desmond Morris, to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine between 2020 and 2022. Tauheluhelu obtained multi-pound shipments of methamphetamine and cocaine on Oahu and arranged for its distribution throughout Hawaii, including to Maui.

Tauheluhelu admitted that during this same time period, he, Pani, and Niu also conspired to operate illegal gambling businesses on Oahu and Maui. Tauheluhelu operated multiple illegal gambling businesses on Oahu, including one at 980 Queen Street, and a “VIP room” operating out of Tauheluhelu’s Staxx Sports Bar & Grill location in Waianae.

Pani, Niu, and Morris each pled guilty to federal felonies and were sentenced earlier in 2024 for their roles in the conspiracy. Pani was sentenced to 192 months of imprisonment, Niu was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment, and Morris was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment.

“This sentence demonstrates that those who traffic dangerous drugs and operate illegal game rooms will face serious consequences,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Sorenson. “We are committed to holding criminal enterprises accountable and protecting our community from the destruction caused by drugs like methamphetamine. Illegal game rooms, like those run by Tauheluhelu, are magnets for violence and criminal activity. This outcome is the result of exceptional coordination and effort by our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.”

“Yesterday’s sentencing reflects years of collaboration among multiple law enforcement agencies to dismantle a dangerous criminal organization,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “The FBI—in coordination with our partners across all levels of government—will continue to use every available resource to protect our communities and bring these criminal enterprises to justice.”

“Our collective efforts send a clear and decisive message: criminal enterprises that exploit and endanger our communities should think twice, as there is zero tolerance for such actions,” said Maui Chief of Police John Pelletier. “We are deeply grateful to our federal partners—FBI Honolulu and the DEA—and to the dedicated MPD officers and personnel who worked tirelessly to bring this operation to a successful conclusion. This achievement was made possible by the unwavering commitment, shared resources, and intelligence of all the involved agencies, reaffirming our dedication to keeping our communities safe for residents and visitors.”

This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Task Force Officers from the Maui Police Department, with assistance from the Maui Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Nammar prosecuted the case.

---30---

SA: Leader of Hawaii drug, gambling ring sentenced to over 16 years | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

MOKULELE: " ... transporting drugs from Oahu to Maui and taking the illegal proceeds from Maui back to Oahu on flights that didn’t have TSA screening .... "