A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Courtney Gene Jeter, 61, Janet Pauline Nelson, 62, and David Abraham Monalim, 46, with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute (1) 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; (2) 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl] propanamide, commonly known as fentanyl; (3) 100 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin; and (4) 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Jeter and Nelson were previously arrested pursuant to criminal complaints containing related charges, on September 30, 2021, and October 1, 2021, respectively. Jeter was ordered detained earlier today, and Nelson’s detention hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.
The indictment also charges Jeter with four counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and one count of money laundering. Nelson is also charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, and Monalim is also charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
Judith A. Philips, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii, said that according to information presented in court, on the date of Jeter’s arrest, law enforcement seized approximately 16.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3.14 kilograms of suspected counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, one kilogram of heroin, over two kilograms of cocaine, over 400 rounds of ammunition, two loaded handguns, and over $400,000 in cash.
If convicted, (1) each defendant faces a minimum of ten years and up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000,000, on the conspiracy charge; (2) Jeter faces the same penalties on the four counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a mandatory five years’ imprisonment that must run consecutive to any other sentence imposed on possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, up to ten years in prison for possession of the ammunition, and up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction for money laundering; (3) Nelson faces the same potential penalties as the conspiracy charge on her other charge; and (4) Monalim faces a mandatory minimum of five years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $5,000,000 on his other charge.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and assisted by the Honolulu Police Department.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Nammar and Craig Nolan.