POSTAL WORKER CHARGED WITH FIREARMS OFFENSES

HONOLULU – Troy Haruki Hamura (51) of Lihue, Kauai,made his initial appearance in United States District Court today before Magistrate Judge Richard L. Puglisi following his arrest pursuant to a criminal complaint charging him with illegally possessing a machine gun and making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm. A preliminary hearing was set for August 8, 2012. The prosecution sought to detain Hamura without bail, but the defendant was released on the condition of community confinement.

United States Attorney Florence T. Nakakuni said that according to information produced to the court, federal agents recovered 19 unregistered firearms, including the fully automatic machine gun forming the basis for the criminal charge, from Hamura's Lihue residence on June 14, 2012. Documents filed in connection with the case disclosed that Hamura, a United States Postal Service employee, ordered a rifle from a Florida gun dealer using a federal firearms license without the licensee's permission, and when the Florida gun dealer shipped the rifle to the Kauai licensee through the United States Postal Service, Hamura obtained the parcel containing the rifle, which he sold without ever registering it.
During the initial appearance, the prosecution disclosed that during the execution of a federal search warrant at Hamura's residence yesterday, agents recovered 30 registered firearms and over 23,000 rounds of ammunition. Neither those firearms nor the ammunition are the basis of any criminal charge.

If indicted and convicted, Hamura faces a maximum penalty of up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The investigation was conducted by the ATF; the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; and the Kauai Police Department. Anyone with information relating to the Hamura investigation should call ATF Special Agent Charles Pang, at 808-566-4800.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Hino.