Hilo Man Arrested and Charged with 21 Offenses in Mail Theft Investigation

Hawai‘i Island police detectives have arrested and charged 31-year-old Keoni Brian Paulino, of Hilo, with an array of theft and financial crimes as well as a drug offense, stemming from an incident involving mail theft reported in the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in the Waiākea Uka area of Hilo.

On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, upon conferral with Hawai‘i County Prosecutors, Paulino was charged with:

• Theft of mail (3 counts)
• Unauthorized possession of confidential and personal info (4 counts)
• Theft of credit card (3 counts)
• Fraudulent use of credit card (3 counts)
• Third-degree identity theft (3 counts)
• Fourth-degree theft (3 counts)
• Third-degree promoting dangerous drug
• Habitual property crime

Paulino was also charged for an outstanding Failure to Appear bench warrant and his total bail amount was set at $264,000. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Thursday afternoon, June 12, 2025, in Hilo District Court.

The charges against Paulino stem from an incident reported on June 10, at approximately 2:07 a.m., when South Hilo patrol officers responded to a report of mail theft from mailboxes on Kupulau Road and a dark-colored SUV seen leaving the area. Responding officers then observed a dark blue Mercedes SUV matching the suspect vehicle description heading north on Komohana Street from Kupulau Road. The vehicle turned down Puainako Street to West Kāwili Street where police initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. Paulino was identified as the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.

Officers also observed numerous items of mail partially stuffed under the front passenger seat. Paulino was placed under arrest and the vehicle was recovered as evidence and the investigation was continued by detectives of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section.

Upon execution of a search warrant on the vehicle, detectives recovered numerous items of mail belonging to persons who reside in the upper Waiākea Uka area, along with stolen credit cards and receipts of credit card transactions using the stolen cards. A glass smoking pipe with residue was also located near the driver’s seat area, which tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.

The Area I Criminal Investigation Section is continuing this investigation. Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to please contact Detective Joseph Picadura of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, at (808) 961-2375, or via email at Joseph.Picadura@hawaiicounty.gov.