Bad Maui cop had
potential, chief says

James Mateaki has pleaded guilty
in connection with
a drug-trafficking ring

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

Maui patrolman James Mateaki appeared suited for police work.

Physically fit, he met the vigorous training requirements required of a member of the Maui Police Department's special response team, said Maui Police Chief Thomas Phillips. Fellow officers considered him a nice person who did his job well and had no complaints filed against him.

"He had a lot of good qualities for the job," Phillips said. "Too bad he couldn't draw the line."

Mateaki, 29, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Feb. 3 to conspiring with close friend Polotani Latu and others to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

Mateaki also admitted to obtaining confidential data from the officers involved in investigations into Latu's drug organization and providing it to Latu to further his drug activities.

From 2000 to 2002, Latu was the head of the largest crystal methamphetamine ring on Maui, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Muehleck. The ring was part of an international drug-trafficking organization that operated between the West Coast, Hawaii and the South Pacific. The operation supplied at least half the crystal methamphetamine on Maui.

Latu and Mateaki were among 40 people arrested by the FBI last May for their participation in the drug ring and subsequently indicted.

Mateaki, in a plea agreement with the government, admitted that he called Maui police dispatch in October 2001 to obtain registration and lien information on a car belonging to a customer who owed Latu money, and any outstanding arrest warrants.

The car was later seized by Latu to satisfy the debt. "(Mateaki) was getting inside information to allow Latu to enforce his drug debts," Muehleck said.

That same month, Maui police intercepted a Federal Express package sent to a Kmart on Maui that contained about 5 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in two basketballs. The package had been sent from California by Latu's suppliers.

In wiretapped conversations, Mateaki discussed the seizure with Latu, saying authorities must have been tipped off. He also referred Latu to another person whom he could do business with and warned him to "be careful," Muehleck said.

Also in November 2001, after one of Latu's couriers was arrested at Kahului Airport carrying more than $60,000, Mateaki obtained the names of the officers who participated in the arrest and the status of the case and relayed it to Latu.

Phil Lowenthal, Mateaki's attorney, could not be reached for comment.

Phillips said there was a mixture of relief and surprise in the department when Mateaki was arrested. Some officers knew of his possible involvement but could not do anything for fear of jeopardizing the drug investigation begun by Maui police, he said. "There was a sense of relief that we had a bad cop off the line."

Others unaware that Mateaki had been associating with Latu were surprised because Mateaki seemed to be a nice person and did his job well. "Bottom line, I don't think any of our officers want to work with anyone on the other side of the law," Phillips said.

While no officers who were part of the drug investigations were hurt as a result of Mateaki's actions, he hurt the community by violating the public's trust and helped further drug trafficking on Maui, Phillips said.

And although Mateaki's involvement with the drug ring was an embarrassment to the Maui Police Department, "we brought it forward and put a stop to it, and for that it's a credit to the agency," Phillips said.

Mateaki was fired in August after 8 1/2 years with the Maui Police Department. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of up to $4 million when sentenced July 14.

Latu pleaded guilty last month under the federal "kingpin statute" -- conducting a continuing criminal enterprise. He faces a mandatory 20 years' imprisonment and an $8 million fine.

While the investigation has not stopped drugs from coming into Maui, a number of mid- and high-level drug traffickers were removed from circulation, Phillips said.