A 31-year-old Pepeekeo man was arrested Tuesday and charged for attempted distribution of fentanyl.
According to county Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen, Cody Lee Ranchez Araw was apprehended at the Suisan Warehouse in Hilo.
According to police, officers executing a search warrant confiscated 71.5 fentanyl pills — equivalent to approximately 3,980 lethal doses of fentanyl — drug paraphernalia and $505.
Araw is charged with attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, four counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and prohibited possession of ammunition.
The most serious offense, attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug is a Class A felony that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, upon conviction.
At Araw’s initial court appearance Friday, Hilo Circuit Judge David Harada-Stone reduced Araw’s bail from $280,000 to $100,000 over the objection of prosecutors, and ordered Araw to return to court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.