MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN COUNTY'S LARGEST DRUG BUST

WAILUKU - A 20-year prison term was ordered Tuesday for a businessman
described as the principal in the largest drug bust in Maui County history.

Based on convictions for two counts of first-degree methamphetamine
trafficking, Patrick Aniban, 44, was ordered to spend at least four
years behind bars before being eligible for parole.

"Causing the cocaine and methamphetamine to be distributed in this
community was ruining the lives of other individuals," 2nd Circuit
Judge Joseph Cardoza said in sentencing Aniban. "Families were being
torn apart; individuals were losing jobs."

Cardoza said that effect had to be balanced with 72 letters for
Aniban, who owns Subway restaurant franchises on Hana Highway in
Kahului and on Molokai. The letters described how Aniban had helped
homeless people, family members and others in the community, the judge said.

Cardoza said there was no indication that Aniban used drugs.

"It appears this was motivated by a desire for money," the judge
said. "That, of course, is extremely unfortunate."

Aniban, and his wife, Ohia Aniban, were arrested along with two
others Jan. 19, 2007, when police raided the house that the Anibans
were renting on South Puunene Avenue in Kahului.

Eight days earlier, police vice officers monitored a drug sale
involving an informant and Wallace Koga, who was indicted on drug
charges along with the Anibans, said Deputy Prosecutor Mark Simonds.

On Jan. 11, 2007, Koga was seen going to the Anibans' residence, then
to the Wal-Mart parking lot in Kahului, where the informant paid
$2,700 cash for 1 ounce of methamphetamine, Simonds said. Afterward,
Koga returned to the Aniban home, Simonds said.

When police executed search warrants at the house, they found nearly
18.5 pounds of cocaine, more than 6 pounds of crystal
methamphetamine, 1 ounce of marijuana and more than $112,000 cash.
The drugs had an estimated street value of more than $1.5 million,
according to police.

"It was the largest drug seizure in Maui County history," Simonds said.

He said the cash included the $2,700 that had been paid for the
methamphetamine. The money was found in a floor safe that had been
installed in the home to handle large amounts of cash.

Co-defendant Matthew Otterson, who also was arrested at the Aniban
residence, later told police about two trips Patrick Aniban took to
the Mainland from August to November 2006 to buy large amounts of
cocaine and methamphetamine that he smuggled back to Maui in his
luggage, Simonds said.

Otterson, 36, who was represented by Wailuku attorney William Sloper,
was placed on five years' probation with no further jail when he was
sentenced last week. Otterson had agreed to testify against others
charged in the case and spent more than an hour on the stand before a
Maui County grand jury that indicted the Anibans and Koga.

Patrick Aniban had pleaded no contest as charged to 10 counts against
him, agreeing to the 20-year prison term. In exchange for his pleas,
the prosecution agreed not to seek extended or consecutive prison terms.

Along with two counts of first-degree methamphetamine trafficking,
Aniban pleaded no contest to criminal conspiracy, first-degree
promotion of a dangerous drug, three counts of possessing drug
paraphernalia, second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug,
second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and promotion of a
controlled substance near a public park.

"I know what I did was wrong, and I have no excuse for my actions,"
Aniban said in court Tuesday. "This is the biggest lesson of my life.
If I could go back and undo what I did, I would. From the bottom of
my heart, I just want to say that I'm ashamed and sorry, and I ask
for forgiveness from all the people on Maui affected, especially my
friends and my family.

"I'm ready to take responsibility for my actions. I promise you,
after this is over, I will never go back down this road again."

Defense attorney Michael Green said Aniban "took responsibility
immediately" and admitted what he did, outlining for law enforcement
officials his trips to the Mainland to buy drugs.

Now Aniban's wife has been left to care for their child, Green said.

"Because of what he did, she got sucked into this," Green said. "At
some point in time, he will be the citizen his friends knew him to be."

Ohia Aniban, 34, was scheduled to change her not guilty pleas in the
case today.

Koga, 59, of Kula, is awaiting sentencing after having some charges
dismissed and pleading no contest to reduced drug charges. He agreed
to testify against co-defendants as part of a plea bargain.

Simonds said the drug conspiracy was uncovered as a result of work by
the Maui Police Department Vice Division, including officer Jeff
Hunt, the lead investigator, who died last October.

After Aniban's sentencing was concluded, Simonds said he will
recommend to the parole board that Aniban remain incarcerated for
most of the 20-year prison term. The board will determine how much
time Aniban spends imprisoned.

While Aniban initially didn't want to speak to police about the drug
conspiracy, he later did talk to federal officials, Simonds said.

"We are going to seek a very, very long minimum term before the
Hawaii Paroling Authority and see that he serves the majority of his
sentence," Simonds said.