Airport gunman
receives 3-year termThe judge agrees that drug use
likely led to his psychotic episode
A 25-year-old Kauai man who fired a handgun twice in a secure area of Lihue Airport and threatened passengers and a security officer in May was sentenced yesterday to 37 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release.
Lloyd Albinio pleaded guilty in June to charges of assaulting a federal officer. U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway ordered him to begin his sentence Jan. 5.
Mollway talked about balancing the severity of Albinio's actions in a "post-9/11 world" with his "impaired mental condition" that triggered an isolated incident. She acknowledged that Albinio did not test positive for methamphetamine use at the time of his arrest, but agreed with Albinio's defense that he was having a "psychotic episode" at the time, likely due to his drug use.
Mollway said she wanted him to receive continued drug and psychiatric treatment and to serve time in prison.
"Clearly, what you did was irresponsible and reckless, and you put fear in hundreds of people," said Mollway.
She chose the minimum prison term allowed under federal guidelines that called for a maximum of 47 months. She is recommending he serve his time in a federal prison with a medical facility so he can receive treatment.
But Mollway also gave Albinio the maximum supervised time after imprisonment, explaining to him, "I think you need it, and I want to make sure you get the services you need when you get out."
A clean-shaven Albinio appeared in court in neatly pressed khakis and a pale yellow dress shirt. As family members looked on from the first row of seats in the gallery, Albinio meekly and politely answered Mollway's questions.
At one point, Albino said "that incident that happened -- not a day passes by I don't think about it. I regret it. I'm sorry and didn't mean it."
Also in court yesterday, Deputy Federal Public Defender Peter Wolff attributed Albinio's actions to "a psychiatric episode" that was likely the result of "ice" use.
Wolff said medical experts believe Albinio's previous drug use caused hallucinations in which he heard voices commanding him to kill himself and others when he walked into the airport May 8 with his handgun. The voices also commanded him to hijack a plane to Tahiti.
"But for Mr. Albinio's psychiatric breakdown, this event would not have occurred," Wolff said, adding that Albinio has since shown "a significant change in psychiatric condition as a result of psychiatric treatment and medication."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Porter said Albinio used a handgun to threaten a Transportation Security Administration officer. Albinio fired his gun into the floor and the ceiling.
Porter said that after threatening the security officer, Albinio, waving his gun, ran into a waiting area, stood on chairs and ordered about 200 people to "get down on the floor."
As he left the courtroom, Albinio's father, Lloyd Albinio Sr., a retired Honolulu firefighter, said he was "deeply surprised" at what his son did.
"This is very sad for the family, and the family regrets what he did."
