HONOLULU, HI – Jonaven Perkins-Sinapati, 39, of Waianae, Hawaii, is headed to federal prison for a decade after being sentenced today for a brazen combination of drug and gun running. U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park handed down the 120-month sentence, followed by five years of supervised release, after Perkins-Sinapati pleaded guilty in May 2025 to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. This isn’t just a drug bust; it’s a clear pattern of escalating recklessness that put a community at risk.
The case unfolded on May 23, 2024, when Perkins-Sinapati, driving in Waianae and aware law enforcement was on his tail due to an outstanding warrant, brazenly ordered a passenger to ditch a bag from the vehicle. He then continued to flee, only to be apprehended at an intersection. Inside that discarded bag, and after a search of Perkins-Sinapati’s vehicle, authorities found approximately 147 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded 9mm “ghost gun” – a weapon without a serial number, making it untraceable – 67 rounds of ammunition, and $1,721 in cash. The evidence paints a clear picture: Perkins-Sinapati wasn’t just holding; he was dealing.
But the story doesn’t end there. Court records revealed this wasn’t an isolated incident. Perkins-Sinapati was already out on bail for a separate state firearms offense, stemming from an alleged discharge of a firearm with a high-capacity magazine in a residential neighborhood of Kaneohe, Hawaii, also in May 2024. Even more disturbingly, evidence suggested Perkins-Sinapati had repeatedly fired a weapon from his vehicle’s sunroof in public places in the days leading up to his arrest in this federal case. This is a man with a blatant disregard for public safety, seemingly itching for trouble.
During sentencing, Judge Park didn’t mince words. She specifically highlighted the danger posed by ghost guns, emphasizing their untraceability and the difficulty they create for law enforcement. She characterized Perkins-Sinapati’s repeated firearm discharges as “grandiose and reckless,” and his attempt to discard the ghost gun as “extremely dangerous.” The judge didn’t shy away from directly addressing the impact on the community, stating Perkins-Sinapati was “a contributing factor” to the gun violence plaguing Waianae, which she described as “wreaking havoc.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) spearheaded the investigation, bringing the full weight of federal resources to bear on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barbara Eucker and Sara D. Ayabe of the District of Hawaii successfully prosecuted the case, securing a conviction and a significant sentence that, hopefully, will remove a dangerous element from the streets of Waianae. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against illegal firearms and the relentless flow of narcotics into Hawaiian communities.
While ten years is a substantial sentence, it remains to be seen if it’s enough to deter others from following in Perkins-Sinapati’s footsteps. The proliferation of untraceable weapons and the demand for methamphetamine continue to fuel violence and instability. The Grimy Times will continue to monitor this case and report on the broader trends impacting public safety in Hawaii and beyond.
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Key Facts
- State: Hawaii
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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