LIHU‘E — A methamphetamine addiction is said to be to underlying reason for a defendants prison sentence on theft and fraudulent use of credit cards. Matteo Vaccaro, 36, of Kalaheo, was sentenced to two concurrent five-year prison terms Wednesday in
LIHU‘E — A methamphetamine addiction is said to be to underlying reason for a defendants prison sentence on theft and fraudulent use of credit cards.
Matteo Vaccaro, 36, of Kalaheo, was sentenced to two concurrent five-year prison terms Wednesday in 5th Circuit Court. The two cases stem from arrests on Nov. 25, 2011, and April 3, 2012, on charges of identity theft, credit card fraud, forgery, drug possession and theft.
The state dropped all other charges for a no contest plea to one charge of fraudulent use of a credit card in each case. Both charges are class C felonies and carry a possible five-year sentence and $10,000 fine.
Vaccaro was recently sentenced on federal charges that required the resolution of the state cases before starting his sentence.
Judge Kathleen Watanabe sentenced Vaccaro to five years prison on each charge, with credit for time served, and ordered the sentencing to run concurrent with the federal term.
Watanabe also ordered restitution in the amount of $212.55 to the victim in one case.
State Deputy Public Defender Christian Enright said the defendant had a good life that was destroyed by a methamphetamine addiction. He lost his business, his family and finally his freedom after he turned to crime and victimizing people to feed his habit, Enright said.
After sobering up in jail Vaccaro has become a pleasant person and would only like to put this behind him and rebuild a life after jail, Enright added.
Vaccaro apologized to the court and said he was sorry that he’d ever committed the crimes.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Murphy said that after discussions with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Kaua‘i Police Department, all parties involved with the case recommended the concurrent five-year sentence.
