Two Men Charged With Local Robbery Spree

Trey Hasegawa, 21, and Matthew Middleton, 26, were charged today with conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum term of 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Both Hasegawa and Middleton have been remanded to federal custody pending further proceedings.

Kenji M. Price, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii, announced that the complaint alleges that over the span of two days Hasegawa and Middleton targeted three convenience stores, one on Waialae Avenue, one on S. King Street, and one on Nuuanu Avenue. On July 8 and 9, cashiers at three 7-Eleven stores handed money to a male brandishing what appears to be a handgun. At this time, the total amount of currency taken is undetermined.

The charges in the complaint are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Honolulu Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Margaret Nammar.