MEDIA RELEASE

On April 8, 2010, a Grand Jury in Honolulu indicted Andre K. Victor (23) and Mano A. White (20) on three felony charges stemming from a marijuana cultivation case within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Arrest warrants were subsequently issued, and on April 11, 2010, both were arrested in Hilo by National Park Service Rangers and Special Agents.

The two Pahoa men will be arraigned in United States District Court in Honolulu, charged with conspiring to cultivate/distribute marijuana, possession/cultivation of marijuana, and intent to distribute marijuana.

The case stems from an incident in December 2009, when national park rangers apprehended the two as they attempted to plant 47 marijuana plants in the forest along the Mauna Loa Road. The men were released, however an investigation into the incident continued and the case was later presented to the United States Attorney’s Office leading to their indictment and arrest.

The Mauna Loa Road is frequently used by local residents and island visitors. The area where rangers apprehended Victor and White is designated by the park as a Special Ecological Area and is managed to protect and restore Hawaii’s native plants and animals.

“Part of the National Park Service mission is to preserve native ecosystems for this and future generations,” said Chief Ranger Talmadge Magno. “With the assistance of United States Attorney’s Office we will continue to aggressively investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals who attempt to use public lands as a place to grow marijuana.”