Pubdate: Tue, 10 Jan 2017 Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI) Copyright: 2017 Star Advertiser Contact: http://www.staradvertiser.com/info/Star-Advertiser_Letter_to_the_Editor.html Website: http://www.staradvertiser.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5154 METH RING LEADER SENTENCED TO 28 YEARS IN PRISON A leader of a ring that conspired to smuggle methamphetamine from San Diego to Hawaii has been sentenced in federal court to 28 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney's office in Honolulu said today. Jesse Wade Pelkey, 38, of Imperial Beach, Calif., was sentenced Thursday by Senior District Judge Helen Gillmor. In September, Pelkey pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to a news release from Florence T. Nakakuni, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii. Nakakuni said in a statement that evidence presented in court showed that Pelkey was an organizer and leader of a methamphetamine conspiracy that operated in San Diego and Hawaii and involved five or more members. Six people in all were convicted. Pelkey was found responsible for the distribution of 424.9 grams of pure methamphetamine and 4,989 grams of generic methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. - --- MAP posted-by: