Hawaii prison gang member gets more than 17-year sentence

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HONOLULU (AP) — A man convicted of leading a brutal attack to maintain his position in a Hawaii prison gang has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison.

The U.S. Attorney’s office announced Tineimalo Adkins’ sentence on Thursday.

A jury found him guilty during a trial last year that provided an inside look at the operations of the “USO Family” prison gang. Authorities say the gang has grown to at least 1,000 members involved in drug-trafficking, violence and tax fraud.

Prosecutors say the 2013 attack Adkins led at Halawa Correctional Facility left the victim suffering traumatic brain injury and facial fractures.

Prosecutors say Adkins was the “shot caller” who ordered the attack.