Pubdate: Tue, 12 Aug 2003
Source: Maui News, The (HI)
Contact:  2003 The Maui News
Website: http://www.mauinews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2259
Author: Melissa Tanji, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

EX-OFFICER SENT TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR AIDING DRUG RING

'Operation Awaroot' Snared Participants In Hawaii, On Mainland, Around Pacific

HONOLULU -- A former Maui police officer involved in an international drug ring
was sentenced Monday to nearly four years in federal prison.

James J. Mateaki was sentenced to 46 months in prison and five years'
supervised release after his prison term, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Florence
Nakakuni. 

She said the 30-year-old Mateaki will serve his time in a federal facility on
the Mainland beginning Sept. 30. Mateaki remains free on bail.

While Mateaki didn't sell drugs, the Wailuku resident provided information
about police investigations to his childhood friend, Polotani "Paul" Latu, who
was involved in the drug ring. Officials said the ring in the past had been
responsible for at least half the crystal methamphetamine sold on Maui. 

Mateaki was among more than 55 people apprehended in Hawaii and on the Mainland
as part of "Operation Awaroot." Officials seized 3 pounds of cocaine, 8 pounds
of crystal methamphetamine and $600,000 in cash from the criminal enterprise
tracked from Maui to Oahu, California, Utah, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand and
Australia. 

Mateaki pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent
to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. He was facing a 10-year
mandatory minimum prison term. 

But Nakakuni said because Mateaki cooperated and lacked a criminal record, he
was eligible for a federal "safety-valve provision," which allows for a lesser
sentence.

She said with the provision, Mateaki faced 46 to 57 months in prison. 

"I think given his role -- in fact, he did plead guilty -- it was an
appropriate sentence that he got," Nakakuni said. 

Nakakuni was handling the sentencing for Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas
Muehleck. 

Mateaki's attorney, Philip Lowenthal, could not be reached for comment. 

Mateaki was sentenced by Judge Helen Gillmor in U.S. District Court on Oahu,
and he was joined by his family, including his son, who was born after
Mateaki's arrest in the case. 

Mateaki also apologized in court for his actions. 

He supplied his black Dodge pickup truck that Latu used to deliver a small
amount of "ice" to an undercover FBI agent, and was the subscriber of a cell
phone used by Latu to make some of the drug deals. 

Latu has been identified as a leader in the drug organization with ties to the
Mainland and the Pacific. He awaits sentencing this fall. 

During a 16-month investigation that began in December 2000, investigators used
wiretaps to monitor conversations on Mateaki's cell phone and other phones. 

At the time of the investigation, Mateaki was a Wailuku patrol officer who had
been trained as a member of MPD's Special Response Team, which handles hostage
and barricade situations and assists in some drug raids. 

Placed on leave without pay after his arrest in April 2002, Mateaki was fired
in August 2002 following an internal police investigation. He had worked 8 1/2
years as a police officer. 

Besides Mateaki, at least three other defendants in the case have been
sentenced. 

According to U.S. District Court records, husband and wife Maloni and Andrea
Niu of Kihei, and Raye W. Bergman, also of Kihei, were sentenced earlier this
summer. 

The Nius pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess
with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

Maloni Niu, 33, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, and upon release,
he will be on supervised release for five years. He was in the custody of the
U.S. Marshals Service at the time of his sentencing. 

Andrea Niu, 33, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, and upon release,
she will be on supervised release for five years. She will begin her sentence
Sept. 10. 

According to court documents, Maloni Niu was arrested as he waited to board a
flight from Kahului to San Francisco in November 2001. Police found $61,504 in
cash, most of it hidden in the pockets of clothing in Niu's luggage. 

Latu called Andrea Niu wondering if police would release her husband's property
to her. 

In an affidavit to support warrants of arrest in "Operation Awaroot," FBI
Special Agent Joel Rudow said he believed Andrea Niu was aware that Latu's drug
proceeds had been secreted throughout her husband's clothing. The agent also
said he believed Andrea Niu intended to obtain the drug proceeds from the
luggage and return them to Latu. 

Bergman, 45, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent
to distribute cocaine. 

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and upon release, he will be on
supervised release for three years. Bergman was in the custody of the U.S.
Marshals Service when he was sentenced. 

According to court documents, Bergman called Latu to obtain cocaine from Latu
to sell to others.
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