Domestic violence offenders plead guilty

HONOLULU, Hawaii – U.S. Attorney Kenji M. Price for the District of Hawaii announced two important guilty pleas:

-David Benjamin Cordeiro, 37, of Mountain View, Hawaii, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of possessing ammunition after having been previously convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence under Hawaii State law, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9).  Sentencing is scheduled for April 22, 2020 before U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi.  According to court documents and information presented in court, on September 1, 2018, Cordeiro possessed multiple rounds of ammunition, which he fired into a stopped car that an adult female was driving, while she was in the driver’s seat.  Cordeiro had previously been convicted of domestic violence against an intimate partner, in violation of Hawaii Revised Statutes § 709-906 (Abuse of Family or Household Members).  In light of his prior domestic violence conviction, federal law prohibited Cordeiro from possessing firearms or ammunition.

-Austin Borja-Haumea, 24, of Kekaha, Hawaii, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of possessing a firearm while being subject to an active Order for Protection, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8).  Sentencing is scheduled for April 15, 2020 before U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi.  According to court documents and information presented in court, on February 18, 2018, Borja-Haumea possessed an unloaded shotgun while seated in a car on Kaua’i.  Borja-Haumea was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was subject to an Order for Protection that had been filed by a family member due to domestic violence.

“These prosecutions are examples of the federal law enforcement community holding individuals accountable for possessing firearms and ammunition, when federal law expressly prohibits them from doing so.  Law enforcement officials will continue to protect our communities by sending a strong enforcement message to prior offenders who have no business possessing a firearm or ammunition.”

The case against Cordeiro was investigated by the Hawaii County Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Early.

The case against Borja-Haumea was investigated by the Kaua’i County Police Department and ATF.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Van Demark.

These prosecutions are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.