Rayshaun Ducos, a 27-year-old man from Honolulu, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for narcotics trafficking and firearms violations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii announced on April 3.
Ducos, who pleaded guilty on December 11 to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, admitted to selling cocaine to a 25-year-old active-duty U.S. Marine. The Marine tragically died from an overdose shortly after purchasing the drugs from Ducos.
In the days following the Marine’s death, Ducos attempted to destroy evidence by flushing cocaine down the toilet as federal agents were preparing to execute a search warrant at his Waikiki residence, according to court documents.
When authorities arrested Ducos, they found him in possession of two privately made firearms, including a loaded 9mm pistol and a 5.56mm caliber AR-style pistol, commonly referred to as ghost guns. Ducos admitted that the weapons were used to support his drug trafficking activities.
During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement recovered significant evidence, including a 100-round drum magazine, nearly 300 rounds of ammunition, over $30,000 in U.S. currency, and cocaine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson issued a statement condemning Ducos’s actions, saying, “A young man is dead because of Mr. Ducos’s actions. Selling drugs endangers lives. Doing so while armed makes an already deadly trade even more dangerous and puts the general public at significant risk from the violence that is endemic to the illegal drug trade.”
He added, “We will prosecute armed drug dealers aggressively because there is no place for them in Hawaii.”
Ducos’s sentence underscores the federal government’s commitment to fighting illegal drug trade and violence in Hawaii. The investigation and subsequent conviction aim to hold accountable those who endanger communities by distributing drugs while being armed.
