Have you seen
these fugitives?Honolulu police have
pictures of their most wanted
fugitives on a new Web site
Honolulu police have a modern-day version of the "Wanted -- Reward" posters usually found in the post office.
It's a new Web site that features about 100 of Oahu's most wanted fugitives, some of whom have managed to elude police for years.
"This is an opportunity for the community to have easier access to the photos of fugitives," said CrimeStoppers coordinator Letha DeCaires. "As it is right now, some tipsters call every week ... they have a lot of information about crime or criminals, and they collect some sort of cash reward every month."
The "wanted fugitives" Web site is updated daily as arrests are made and new warrants issued. It went online Thursday, and since then three fugitives have already been arrested.
As soon as the arrest is made, fugitives' pictures are updated with a big red "arrested" graphic stamped across their face. This week's arrests include Thomas Soronen, wanted for failure to appear in court for his robbery trial, Mary Tachibana, wanted on a probation revocation warrant, and Morris Sam Diaz, who was wanted on a domestic-violence warrant.
This the first time police have attempted to bring so many wanted fugitives to the attention of the public at one time. But DeCaires said she may place even more pictures on the site in the future.
There wasn't enough space for the Star-Bulletin to print the pictures of all of Oahu's most wanted fugitives in the paper, but some of the more violent suspects sought by the police are:
>> George Sonnee, 27, who was charged by a state grand jury for a 1998 robbery and has been on HPD's wanted list since 1999. Sonnee was born in New York; however, police believe he is still on Oahu."All attempts to serve the warrants have failed, and we have no leads on them at this time," said DeCaires. "Some others are recent warrants for those we believe to be active criminals, and we want them off the streets as soon as possible.">> Jason Perez, who at 18 years old is one of the youngest fugitives on the list. Perez has grand jury bench warrants for two robbery cases totaling about $95,000. DeCaires said police have been chasing him "daily" since a warrant was issued for his arrest earlier this month. Perez also has a history of refusing to stop for officers, resulting in police pursuits.
>> Jolene E. Mattos, 22, wanted on a probation revocation warrant after being convicted of robbery and kidnapping last year. Police said Mattos knocked on the door of a Japanese tourist in Waikiki, and when the victim opened the door for her, two male accomplices burst in, held a handgun to the victim's head and tied him up with duct tape, then robbed him.
Most of the fugitives are wanted on felony bench warrants and for misdemeanor domestic violence. Police are hoping to stop cases of domestic abuse before they escalate.
"There's a reason why our homicide rates are low," said DeCaires, "and part of it is that our department is quick to arrest domestic-violence offenders."
DeCaires also asks that the public not dismiss any fugitive as a "minor" criminal because their warrant might be for a lesser crime such as contempt of court.
"Often many fugitives have a criminal past behind the warrant they are currently wanted for," she said.
One example is Richard Kaai, 41, who, though wanted for violating a family court restraining order, also has past convictions for assault, robbery and theft. Jackson Ameperosa, 44, is currently wanted for a domestic-violence warrant and has two robbery convictions.
DeCaires said other fugitives made the Web site because they have done everything they could to avoid getting served a warrant. Their tactics range from giving out false information to making a quick getaway by running or driving away.
"It can be really frustrating. ... Hopefully, now the public can get more involved to help us out."
The link can be found at www.crimestoppers-honolulu.org on the left side of the Web site. Anonymous tips on fugitives' whereabouts can be called in to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
Any tip to the Honolulu Police Department's CrimeStoppers program that leads to the arrest or identification (not necessarily prosecution) of a wanted person is eligible for a maximum $1,000 reward. In the case of multiple calls, the first caller who provides key information will receive the reward, said DeCaires. If multiple calls come in about the same time, any reward would be split among the key informants.
BACK TO TOP |
Oahu's most wanted
CrimeStoppersHonolulu released its list of Oahu's 100 most wanted criminals. Here are the top 10. To view the complete list, log on to www.crimestoppers-honolulu.org.
James Edwin Adams
Male
Age: 35
5 feet 3, 135 pounds
Brown hair, brown eyes
Probation revocation -- sex assaultAdam Correa
Male
Age: 22
5 feet 11, 225 pounds
Brown hair, blue eyes
Probation revocation -- assault, kidnappingDerek Allan Elaban
Male
Age: 48
5 feet 8, 175 pounds
Black hair, brown eyes
Grand jury warrant -- burglary, sex assaultMooch Fualaau
a k a Cap 2, Daniel
Male
Age: 27
5 feet 10, 220 pounds
Black hair, brown eyes
Failure to appear -- weapons offenses
Thanh Ngog Lam
Male
Age: 24
5 feet 6, 130 pounds
Black hair, brown eyes
Probation revocation -- kidnapping/TT/ domestic violence
Jolene E. Mattos
Female
Age: 22
5 feet, 98 pounds
Brown hair, brown eyes
Probation revocation --
robbery/kidnappingGaudencio S. Mendoza
Male
Age: 52
6 feet 2, 200 pounds
Black hair, brown eyes
Failure to appear -- kidnapping
Jason Perez
Male
Age: 18
5 feet 9, 140 pounds
Brown hair, brown eyes
Grand jury warrant -- robberyGeorge Sonnee
Male
Age: 27
5 feet 6, 148 pounds
Black hair, brown eyes
Grand jury warrant -- robberyCall 955-8300 to report a possible sighting
