U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor on Nov. 18 sentenced a pair of Hawaii Island women to federal prison for their role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine distribution, according to County Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen.
Billie Jack Peridot, aka B.J. Kawelo of Puna, 43, received a five-year sentence, and 45-year-old Malia Broome of Waimea was sentenced to four years for conspiracy to distribute and possess more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Gillmor also ordered both be placed on five years supervision — the federal equivalent of probation — after their releases from prison.
Both women are currently free, Waltjen said. Broome is scheduled to turn herself in on Dec. 30 and Kawelo, on Jan. 6.
Earlier this month, 46-year-old Maximillian Oleksiak of Puna was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison for his involvement in the case.
Waltjen said that on May 27, 2020, Kona Vice officers searched Broome’s Cadillac sedan in the parking lot of the Kona Coast Shopping Center and found about two pounds of meth. Kawelo, Broome and Oleksiak were arrested at the scene.
According to Waltjen, the investigation that led to the seizure and arrests were the result of a combined effort by Kona and Hilo Vice sections, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Hawaii County’s Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.