A Kauai woman, Faith Michelle Nelson, 52, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The sentence was handed down by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi after Nelson pleaded guilty. She has been in custody since her arrest on April 10, 2024.
According to court records, Nelson participated in a conspiracy that obtained controlled substances through the U.S. mail and distributed methamphetamine on Kauai. Authorities held her responsible for distributing more than 18 pounds of methamphetamine.
Nelson is among eleven defendants charged across three indictments related to a trans-Pacific drug trafficking network. Nine have pleaded guilty, while others await trial. She is the first among nine defendants in one indictment to be sentenced. The investigation led to the seizure of over 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and more than $150,000 in cash.
In a related case, Shawn Pauahi Santana received a 240-month prison sentence and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to charges connected to distributing methamphetamine.
“Yesterday’s sentence represents a significant step in bringing to justice the trans-Pacific criminal enterprise that Nelson and her coconspirators used to flood communities in Hawaii, Alaska, and beyond with deadly drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We credit our tremendous law enforcement partners with helping to expose and dismantle this dangerous drug operation.”
“This sentencing and related investigation mark a crucial moment in the ongoing fight to protect our citizens from the deadly drugs that plague our island communities,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “We are grateful for the tremendous partnerships across all levels of law enforcement in this joint effort, and we will continue to use every available resource to protect our communities and bring these trans-Pacific criminal enterprises to justice.”
“This individual has an extensive history of harming our community and putting countless families at risk,” said Chief Kalani Ke of the Kaua‘i Police Department. “Today’s sentence holds her accountable for her actions and demonstrates that such destructive behavior will not be tolerated. We commend our federal partners for helping end this operation, and we remain committed to keeping Kaua‘i safe from those who bring dangerous drugs into our communities.”
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; police departments from Kauai, Maui, and Honolulu; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Drug Enforcement Administration; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar prosecuted the case.