Keaau man sentenced to 20 years in meth case

A 61-year-old Keaau man was sentenced Monday in Kona Circuit Court to 20 years for attempted distribution of methamphetamine.

According to county Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen, Charles Zuffante was found guilty by a Kailua-Kona jury in February.

The case stemmed from a traffic stop on Oct. 21, 2021, near the intersection of Keanalehu Drive and Manawalea Street in Kona.

According to Waltjen, officers found 108.5 grams — almost 3 1/2 ounces — of methamphetamine, broken down into saleable-sized packages.