HONOLULU – Brandon Charles Saffeels, 38, a former Maui Police Division officer, was sentenced immediately to 10 years in jail and a 15-year time period of supervised launch following that jail time period for tried little one enticement by U.S. District Decide Leslie E. Kobayashi. Saffeels pleaded responsible in April to trying to have interaction in sexual contact with somebody who he believed to be a 13-year-old woman. Along with his sentence, Saffeels should additionally register as a intercourse offender, as required by the Intercourse Offender Registration and Notification Act.
In keeping with courtroom paperwork and knowledge introduced to the courtroom, on December 3, 2021, Saffeels contacted the net profile of what gave the impression to be a younger feminine. The profile, nonetheless, was managed by an undercover legislation enforcement officer (“UC”). Finally through the dialog, Saffeels requested the UC, “How outdated are u?” and the UC responded “Plz dont decide however im 13.” To entice the UC, Saffeels supplied to take the UC procuring and repeatedly supplied to provide her cash. At one level, the UC requested him what she wanted to do for the cash and Saffeels responded, “Intercourse.”
On December 4, 2021, Saffeels contacted the UC and requested that they meet for intercourse at a chosen location. Shortly after midnight the next day, Saffeels arrived on the agreed-upon assembly location the place he was arrested by legislation enforcement.
When he was arrested on Maui on December 5, 2021, Saffeels was as a consequence of self-surrender to the federal Bureau of Prisons on January 7, 2022, to start service of a 30-month sentence Decide Kobayashi imposed for a federal public corruption offense. That offense concerned an incident the place Saffeels arrested a girl for suspecting driving beneath the affect of an intoxicant, after which started speaking together with her, providing to supply perjured testimony to assist her beat the case, if she would come to his home. At immediately’s sentencing, Decide Kobayashi ordered that Saffeels serve the 2 sentences concurrently, or on the similar time.
“In looking for to sexually exploit a baby whereas on launch pending self-surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a separate prison cost, Saffeels – a former legislation enforcement officer – engaged in reprehensible conduct that won’t be tolerated,” stated U.S. Legal professional Clare E. Connors. “The substantial time period of imprisonment and the size of supervised launch after incarceration is absolutely justified on this case.”
“The FBI stays dedicated to make sure the general public’s security even after somebody is discovered responsible and awaiting sentencing. This former legislation enforcement officer dedicated one other crime in trying to entice a minor and was caught,” stated FBI Particular Agent in Cost Steven Merrill. “The FBI is not going to cease in defending Hawaii’s keiki and we thank the Maui Police Division and our different federal legislation enforcement companions as we work collectively on instances like this. We be part of the general public in holding legislation enforcement officers to a better customary.”
“Homeland Safety Investigations is not going to tolerate the exploitation of keiki by folks able of belief,” stated Particular Agent in Cost John F. Tobon. “We’re happy his sentence is in keeping with the heinous nature of the crime.”
This case is the results of a multi-agency operation generally known as “Keiki Protect,” involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Safety Investigations, the Maui Police Division, and the USA Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Legal professional Mohammad Khatib is prosecuting the case.