A 46-year-old Hilo man with a federal felony drug conviction on his record is facing state felony drug charges.
According to court documents filed by police, officers executed a search warrant Jan. 16 on Ronald Auwae’s home.
The search allegedly yielded 38.2 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 8.1 grams of heroin, a glass smoking pipe with residue that tested positive for meth, other paraphernalia including a digital scale and zip-lock packets, plus an undisclosed amount of cash, documents state.
Auwae was charged with first-, second- and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and property forfeiture.
The most serious charge, first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, is a Class A felony that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment upon conviction.
Auwae made his initial appearance Friday in Hilo District Court. During the hearing, Judge Harry Freitas increased Auwae’s bail from $65,000 to $85,000 and ordered him to return at 2 p.m. Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
According to the Department of Public Safety website, as of late Monday afternoon Auwae remained in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Auwae was one of 32 people arrested in April 2000 in a joint drug sweep by local police and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration that netted 9 ounces of crystal meth, 3.8 ounces of cocaine, 15.7 grams of heroin, 918 marijuana plants and 5.9 pounds of dried, processed marijuana.
Police also seized a 12-gauge sawed off shotgun, a .44-caliber revolver, a .357 magnum revolver, a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and two 20-gauge shotguns.
Confiscated for forfeiture in the 2000 sweep was $108,119 in cash, 10 motor vehicles and two motorcycles valued at a total of $50,000, jewelry valued at $30,000 and a surveillance camera valued at $1,000.
Auwae was sentenced in 2001 to 37 months in a federal prison and five years supervised release, the federal equivalent of probation.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald
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