HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION
LIEUTENANT RANDALL MEDEIROS
PHONE: 961-2252
JANUARY 18, 2006
C05039004

MEDIA RELEASE

As part of their continuing probe into a network of identity thieves, East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section detectives have charged a 28 year-old Puna woman with various financial crimes.

Early Tuesday afternoon (January 17, 2006) police charged Maggie A. Rodrigues with two counts of second degree forgery and two counts of second degree theft. Then, on Wednesday morning (January 18, 2006) charged her with two additional counts of second degree forgery, two counts of second degree identity theft and two more counts of second degree theft. Bail for Rodrigues has been set at $46,500. She is being held at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center pending her initial court appearance.

These charges coincide with charges filed against a Hilo couple in late December 2005. On December 25, 2005, 28 year-old Kyle S. Fukunaga was charged with two counts each of second degree forgery and second degree theft. He was released the following day (December 26, 2005) after posting $20,000 bail. On December 28, 2005, following the execution of a search warrant on his residence the day prior, Fukunaga was charged with second degree promoting a dangerous drug, two counts of third degree promoting a dangerous drug, third degree promoting a detrimental drug and two counts of prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia. Bail for Fukunaga was set at $13,500. He did not post bail prior to his initial court appearance which was on December 29, 2005.

Also charged was 24 year-old Rhanna M. Gonsalves. She was charged on December 28, 2005 with second and third degree promoting a dangerous drug, third degree promoting a detrimental drug and prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia. Bail for Gonsalves was set at $9,250. She too was unable to post bail and made her initial court appearance on December 29, 2005. That same day, she was charged with six counts of second degree identity theft, eight counts of second degree theft and six counts of second degree forgery. She remains at the Hawaii Community Correctional center unable to post bail which now totals $67,250.

This recent investigation into several groups of identity thieves has revealed criminal operations conducted in virtually every district on the island. Police expect more arrests as the investigation continues.

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