A San Francisco man, Filimone Tavake, appeared in the District of Hawaii today to face charges related to his alleged involvement in a murder connected with drug trafficking. According to court documents, Tavake is accused of killing a Hawaii resident at the victim's home on March 27, 2021, as part of a drug distribution conspiracy. He was arrested five days prior in California.
Tavake faces multiple charges including the use and discharge of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; causing death through the use of a firearm; committing murder while engaged in a conspiracy to distribute and possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute; and conspiracy to distribute and possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. If found guilty, he could face a minimum sentence of 20 years up to life imprisonment.
The announcement was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, who heads the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors for the District of Hawaii; Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill of the FBI; and Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan of the Honolulu Police Department.
The case is currently under investigation by both the FBI and Honolulu Police Department. The prosecution team includes Trial Attorney Christina Taylor from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section along with representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.
It should be noted that an indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.