LIHUE — Scott Kaipo Burgess, 60, formerly of Kapaa, was sentenced Thursday to serve 10 years in prison for his role in a 2013 drug bust that yielded nearly 227 grams of methamphetamine, associated drug paraphernalia, and more than $20,000
LIHUE — Scott Kaipo Burgess, 60, formerly of Kapaa, was sentenced Thursday to serve 10 years in prison for his role in a 2013 drug bust that yielded nearly 227 grams of methamphetamine, associated drug paraphernalia, and more than $20,000 in U.S. currency.
The sentence, for a class B felony charge of promoting a dangerous drug in the second degree, was handed down by Fifth Circuit Chief Judge Randal G.B. Valenciano after hearing sentencing arguments from Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Tate and Burgess’s public defender.
On Aug. 20, 2013, officers from the Kauai Police Department along with FBI special agents executed a search wrrant on Burgess’s residence on Eggerking Road in Wailua Houselots. A Fifth Circuit Grand Jury indicted Burgess in November 2013, but Burgess fled to California before he could be apprehended.
While in California, Burgess was arrested and incarcerated for unrelated drug offenses. Following his release in California, Burgess was arrested on the strength of the Kauai warrant and extradited back to Hawaii.
“Those who traffic methamphetamine on Kaua‘i should know that we will not rest in our efforts to end their trade and hold them accountable for the damage they do,” said Prosecuting Attorney Justin F. Kollar. “This drug destroys lives and families. We will continue to vigorously prosecute these offenders.”
