Sailor gets 7 years
for ‘ice’ lab

The Navy woman had operated
the lab at Radford Terrace

A Pearl Harbor sailor was sentenced to seven years in prison yesterday after pleading guilty to having a crystal methamphetamine lab in her military home this summer.

Petty Officer 1st Class Theresa A. Moss was arrested on July 15 after federal and state agents raided her home at the Radford Terrace Navy family-housing area.

Moss had been living in a nonmilitary home in Ewa Beach before she moved into the Radford housing in May, and evidence that came out during a federal grand jury indicated that she had been manufacturing and distributing meth since November 2003.

"This is an unfortunate case, but this shows that the system works," said Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Davis.

The Navy first found out about the case when Moss tested positive for drugs, Davis said.

"The Navy is not a good employer for those who want to use drugs. ... We test, we investigate and we prosecute," he said.

Davis said he believes this is the first time in Hawaii that a member of the military has been arrested and convicted for operating a drug lab on military property.

Moss' civilian husband, Jimmy Yasay, and another civilian, Faleu Liilii, were also arrested and face drug charges in U.S. District Court.

Moss has been on active duty for the Navy since February 1992, and was assigned to the Personnel Support Detachment at the time of her arrest.

During a court-martial yesterday, Moss was also sentenced to a reduction in rank and forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and was dishonorably discharged.

However, Navy officials said that under the terms of her plea agreement, Moss could be released after three years.