The Latest: California man pleads guilty in Kauai meth bust

HONOLULU – The Latest on a guilty plea in a the largest amount of crystal meth Kauai police seized during a single bust (all times local):

11:30 a.m.

A California man is pleading guilty in a federal case Kauai police say resulted in the largest amount of crystal meth seized during a single bust on the island.

Steve Pete Orozco II, of Stockton, California, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges involving drug dealing, conspiracy and possessing a handgun he wasn’t allowed to have because of a previous drug felony conviction.

Kauai police say officers seized seven pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of $1.6 million during the March bust. Police say that’s the largest amount of meth the department has ever seized in one incident.

Orozco faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison for each of the drug dealing and conspiracy charges. He faces up to 10 years for the firearm offence.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 12.

12:10 a.m.

A California man is expected to plead guilty in what Kauai police say resulted in the largest amount of crystal meth seized during a single bust on the island.

Steve Pete Orozco II, of Stockton, California, is scheduled to withdraw his previous not-guilty plea on Thursday in federal court in Honolulu. He and his cousin, Andrew J. Martinez, pleaded not guilty last week to meth distribution charges.

Public defender Craig Jerome says Orozco plans to plead guilty as indicted. An indictment also charges him with possessing a stolen handgun with a scratched-off serial number.

Kauai police say officers seized seven pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of $1.6 million during the March bust. Police say that’s the largest amount of meth the department has ever seized in one incident.

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