Home » Keoni Paulino Charged in Hilo Mail and ID Theft Case

Keoni Paulino Charged in Hilo Mail and ID Theft Case

Meth, stolen mail, and cards found in SUV in Waiākea Uka

by Amelia Crawford

HILO, Hawaiʻi Island – A 31-year-old Hilo man, Keoni Brian Paulino, has been arrested and charged with a series of financial and drug-related crimes following a mail theft incident in the Waiākea Uka area early Tuesday morning.

The charges stem from a police investigation that began at 2:07 a.m. on June 10, when South Hilo patrol officers responded to reports of stolen mail from mailboxes along Kupulau Road. Witnesses reported a dark-colored SUV fleeing the scene.

Officers soon located a dark blue Mercedes SUV matching the description and initiated a traffic stop on West Kawili Street. Paulino, the vehicle’s sole occupant, was taken into custody after officers spotted multiple pieces of mail stuffed under the passenger seat.

A search warrant executed on the SUV uncovered:

Mail belonging to Waiākea Uka residents

Stolen credit cards

Receipts of fraudulent transactions

A glass pipe testing positive for methamphetamine

After consultation with county prosecutors, Paulino was officially charged on Wednesday, June 11, with:

3 counts: Theft of mail

4 counts: Unauthorized possession of personal info

3 counts: Theft of a credit card

3 counts: Fraudulent credit card use

3 counts: Third-degree identity theft

3 counts: Fourth-degree theft

Promoting a dangerous drug (third degree)

Habitual property crime

Failure to appear warrant

His total bail was set at $264,000, and Judge Kanani Laubach maintained that amount during his initial appearance on Thursday. A preliminary hearing is set for Monday, June 16 at 2 p.m.

The Area I Criminal Investigation Section is continuing to investigate the case.

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