Maui Police Department addresses federal bribery case involving high-ranking lieutenant
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Maui Police Department held a press conference Wednesday to address a federal bribery case involving Lt. Michael Vaituulala.
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Vaituulala, head of the department’s now-disbanded Criminal Intelligence Unit, is accused of accepting bribes to protect drug traffickers, illegal cockfighters, and illegal fireworks distributors over several years.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Rom Trader denied bail Tuesday after prosecutors argued Vaituulala posed a flight risk and danger to the community.
Prosecutors also said the criminal complaint does not represent the full extent of the evidence against him.
According to the federal criminal complaint, Vaituulala served as an FBI Task Force Officer until last October, representing himself as a federal agent while allegedly helping criminals avoid arrest.
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The complaint further alleges Vaituulala is at serious risk of obstructing justice because he illegally disclosed the identities of confidential sources, evidence, a pending wiretap, and information about ongoing federal investigations into perpetrators and co-conspirators.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier addressed the charges at a public event on Monday.
“The actions of one individual don’t reflect the profession,” Pelletier said. “We’ve seen policing being politicized in presidential cycles and different things like that. We’ve seen false narratives. But remember, law enforcement is the one who took that individual into custody.”
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