Kauai man held on federal charges

LIHUE — A Kilauea man could face up to a decade in federal prison for allegedly having an unloaded shotgun and two shells in his possession when police arrested him last year.

In February 2018, Kauai Police Department Vice Section officers conducted an operation to locate Shai Ragudo, 26, who was suspected of evading police in a recent car chase and wanted on two arrest warrants issued by the state paroling authority, according to charging documents in a federal case opened Tuesday.

An affidavit by Special Agent Genevieve Leong with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said KPD officers tracked Ragudo down at a farm on Koki Road in Kapaa, where they found him “lying down on the front seat of a vehicle in what appeared to be an attempt to hide from the police.”

Ragudo put the car in reverse when police surrounded the vehicle but gave up after about 30 seconds and surrendered, according to Leong’s affidavit, which said police found a 12-gauge shotgun shell in the pocket of Ragudo’s shorts after his arrest.

Police seized the car, got a search warrant and allegedly found another round of ammunition and a Winchester shotgun, which Ragudo is prohibited from owning due to a prior felony conviction.

Because the shotgun and two shells were manufactured outside of Hawaii, they crossed state lines at some point, placing Ragudo’s alleged crime in the jurisdiction of federal authorities.

Ragudo is charged with prohibited possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His case will be handled by Sean Van Demark, a former Kauai county deputy prosecuting attorney who recently took a position with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Honolulu.