6 on Maui
charged in Vegas
drug-smuggling ring

The indictment says couriers
and parcels were used to
shuttle money and "ice"

Six Maui residents, including a former police officer, conspired to distribute six pounds of methamphetamine as a part of a drug ring that linked Las Vegas and the Valley Isle, authorities allege.

Nathaniel "Bobo" Russell, wife Pamela Mahealani Newton, John Corniel Jr., Cyrinah L. Aken, former Maui policeman Reed Kaleookalani Aken Sr. and Charles R.K. Farren were indicted July 14 on three counts each and entered not-guilty pleas yesterday in U.S. District Court in Honolulu.

The indictment unsealed Thursday charges each person with one count of conspiracy and two of possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Leandro Gomez, also charged in the indictment, was arrested Thursday in Las Vegas and will be brought here to face the charges.

If convicted of conspiracy, each faces a maximum of 10 years to life imprisonment.

According to the indictment, the methamphetamine was to be delivered from Las Vegas to Maui either by courier or via small parcel/cargo carriers.

Reed Aken was a courier who transported money for the drugs to Las Vegas and would return with the drugs to Maui, the indictment said.

Russell and wife, Newton, supervised the distribution of methamphetamine on Maui, according to the indictment.

Corniel was an intermediary who arranged with Gomez to maintain the inventory of methamphetamine on Maui and handle distribution, according to the indictment. Farren was a customer. Cyrinah Aken assisted in various ways, including handling the drug money and finances.

Reed Aken allegedly traveled from Maui to Las Vegas between May 25 and 26. On May 28, officers of the Los Angeles International Narcotics Task Force approached him at Los Angeles International Airport when he got off a plane from Las Vegas, and found about two pounds of methamphetamine under his clothing.

After he was arrested, Aken admitted that he had flown to Las Vegas with $66,000 at Russell's request to pick up "ice."

On June 9, Gomez allegedly sent a parcel containing nearly four pounds of methamphetamine to a Makawao address.

Two Las Vegas men, Timothy Sullivan and Gilbert Gomez, were arrested earlier in the conspiracy case and charged in separate complaints. Both will also be brought here to face charges.

Gilbert Gomez is in the custody of Nevada officials, charged with possessing a small amount of methamphetamine. He was charged of conspiring with the others in a complaint filed here yesterday.