HILO, Hawaiʻi – Hawaiʻi Island police detectives have arrested and charged 31-year-old Keoni Brian Paulino of Hilo with a sweeping array of theft and financial crimes, as well as a drug offense. The charges stem from an incident involving mail theft reported in the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in the Waiākea Uka area of Hilo.
On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, following a conferral with Hawaiʻi County Prosecutors, Paulino was charged with a total of 21 offenses:
- Three counts of Theft of mail
- Four counts of Unauthorized possession of confidential and personal information
- Three counts of Theft of credit card
- Three counts of Fraudulent use of credit card
- Three counts of Third-degree identity theft
- Three counts of Fourth-degree theft
- One count of Third-degree promoting dangerous drug
- One count of Habitual property crime
Paulino was also charged for an outstanding Failure to Appear bench warrant. His total bail amount was set at $264,000. He was scheduled to make his initial court appearance yesterday afternoon, Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Hilo District Court.
The charges against Paulino originated from an incident reported on June 10, at approximately 2:07 a.m. South Hilo patrol officers responded to a report of mail theft from mailboxes on Kupulau Road, where a dark-colored SUV was seen leaving the area. Responding officers then observed a dark blue Mercedes SUV matching the suspect vehicle description heading north on Komohana Street from Kupulau Road. The vehicle turned onto Puainako Street to West Kāwili Street, where police initiated a traffic stop. Paulino was identified as the driver and sole occupant.
Officers observed numerous items of mail partially stuffed under the front passenger seat. Paulino was arrested on the spot, and the vehicle was recovered as evidence. The investigation was subsequently continued by detectives of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section.
Upon executing a search warrant on the vehicle, detectives recovered numerous items of mail belonging to residents in the upper Waiākea Uka area, along with stolen credit cards and receipts from credit card transactions using the stolen cards. A glass smoking pipe with residue, which tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine, was also located near the driver’s seat area.
The Area I Criminal Investigation Section is continuing this investigation. Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective Joseph Picadura of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, at (808) 961-2375, or via email at Joseph.Picadura@hawaiicounty.gov.