A 70-year-old man was allegedly transporting methamphetamine from Oahu to the Big Isle

Court records show a 70-year-old Oahu man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to transporting methamphetamine he bought for $1,700 a pound from Oahu to Hawaii and then selling it for $3,000 a pound.

Eugene Raymond Hall was initially charged with a single count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine before Senior U.S. District Court Judge J. Michael Seabright.

Federal prosecutors agreed to allow Hall to remain at the Sand Island Treatment Center until his March 27 sentencing.

Hall, who allegedly received the drugs from a supplier in California, was allegedly caught four times carrying packages worth at least five to six pounds each. Federal court records show that on one occasion Hall received 25 pounds of methamphetamine from a supplier in California.

As part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice filed Tuesday, Hall agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren M. Nakamura. Hall is represented by federal public defender Salina M. Kanai.

Hall has four previous convictions, including for theft and domestic violence.

Earlier this year, police and Homeland Security Investigations agents began investigating Hall’s alleged methamphetamine trafficking in Hawaii.

According to an affidavit prepared by an HSI agent, Hall allegedly used United Parcel Service to “transport large quantities of methamphetamine in packages shipped from California and Oahu to Hawaii for final distribution to various customers.”

On February 15, HSI agents and Hawaii Police Department officers searched a residence in Hawaii and located approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine. Following the search, law enforcement officers arrested an individual identified in federal court records as “CD.”

Hall “typically shipped packages containing multiple pounds of methamphetamine to CD’s residences,” which CD and Hall “sold to customers in Hawaii.”

Hall allegedly shipped the methamphetamine on CDs, some of it was sold on CDs, and he kept the rest for Hall until Hall flew in to “distribute the drugs to various customers.”

“Of the eleven pounds of methamphetamine recovered by law enforcement, three pounds were delivered by Hall and belonged to CD, and the remaining eight pounds were delivered to CD and belonged to Hall,” federal court records show.

At the request of law enforcement, between February and April, CD “entered into a series of recorded conversations with Hall.” During these conversations, CD and Hall allegedly discussed “methamphetamine distribution.”

On February 25, HSI persuaded CD to arrange a meeting with Hall on Oahu for March 6 and gave him $10,000 as partial payment for the methamphetamine transaction.

CD has “numerous felony convictions, including drug-related offenses and burglary” and is cooperating with law enforcement, hoping it will bring some relief to the federal drug charges he faces.

On March 6, CD gave Hall $10,000 in exchange for a small sample of approximately 14 grams of methamphetamine and discussed future purchases and sales.

On April 20, Hall received 13 pounds of methamphetamine shipped from California to an address in Waianae.

On April 22, CD told his law enforcement contacts that Hall was sending him a package of methamphetamine. Hall flew to Hawaii on April 23 to pick up the package and was arrested by Hawaiian police and HSI agents.