KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii Police have charged three Hilo residents with 59 offenses in connection with drugs and fraudulent use of credit cards.
On Sept. 26, Criminal Investigations Section detectives received information from local bank officials that fraudulent credit card purchases were being made at various retail establishments in the Hilo area. The Hawaii Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit recovered video surveillance from these establishments and was able to identify three individuals responsible for these transactions.
On Oct. 9, Pohai Souza was located and arrested for the use of fraudulent credit card charges followed by Ryan Ikeda and Rosenda Santiago being arrested on Thursday, according to police.
On Thursday, Souza was charged with unlawful possession, fourth-degree theft, and fraudulent use of a credit card. Her bail was set at $2,600, police said.
On Friday, Ikeda was charged with first-degree credit card theft, 10 counts of unauthorized possession of confidential information, identification theft, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, drug paraphernalia, first-degree theft, six counts of credit card forgery, and possession of a forgery device, according to police. Ikeda’s bail was set at $177,000.
Santiago was charged with four counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, five counts of credit card forgery, seven counts of unauthorized possession of confidential information, four counts of third-degree theft, four counts of fourth-degree theft, three counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, drug paraphernalia, two counts of credit card theft, and two counts of possession of a forgery device, according to police. Santiago’s bail was set at $191,900.
Police urge consumers to be mindful of keeping track of transactions of their credit card and debit card accounts. These crimes involved the use of personal information suspected as being obtained from unlawful online sources.
Both Ikeda and Santiago were unable to post bail and remain at the Hilo police cellblock pending their initial court appearance scheduled for Monday afternoon.