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Former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha sent secret messages of support to a defendant in a drug-dealing case Kealoha was prosecuting, according to documents released Wednesday by federal prosecutors. Read more

Former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha sent secret messages of support to a defendant in a drug-dealing case Kealoha was prosecuting, according to documents released Wednesday by federal prosecutors.

One message from Kealoha reads, “Just remember that I always got ur back, I love you and will protect you always!!!”

After the defendant, designated as co-conspirator 4, or CC#4, agreed to a favorable plea deal offered by Kealoha, the government says the two had this exchange:

“CC#4: Go TEAM!

Kealoha: GO TEAM!!! Can’t wait for this s—- to be over.

CC#4: Ditto[.] Then we’re free[.]”

The texts are part of over 500 pages of messages the government says Kealoha and CC#4 exchanged in 2016 over a secret text messaging application. Federal prosecutors included some of the exchanges in its request for increased bond conditions for Kealoha in light of the latest charges against her.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment, unsealed Tuesday, that charges Kealoha and her brother Rudolph Puana with drug distribution and conspiracy.

The indictment alleged Puana provided illegal prescription drugs to CC#4 in exchange for cocaine. CC#4 was arrested on drug charges, and Kealoha used her position to protect her brother from being linked to the CC#4 case, the indictment said.

Puana, a licensed anesthesiologist and pain doctor, prescribed the powerful pain drugs oxycodone and fentanyl and the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam, or Xanax, to patients outside the scope of professional conduct, according to the indictment. He then instructed the patients to sell or trade the drugs for cocaine to give to him, the indictment said.

Kealoha was one of Puana’s patients. The indictment accuses Kealoha of distributing the drugs her brother gave her to two other people.

Kealoha and Puana pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday in U.S. District Court.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard L. Puglisi set trial for April, but that will be postponed because Kealoha, her husband, former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, and three former members of HPD’s Criminal Intelligence Unit will be in trial in April on charges accusing them of framing a Kealoha relative for stealing the Kealohas’ mailbox and lying about it to investigators.

Kealoha had been free on $100,000 unsecured signature bond in the mailbox case.

Puglisi denied the government’s request to add a surety or cash deposit requirement. He did, however, say Kealoha cannot leave Oahu and ordered her to submit to random drug testing.

Kealoha’s court-appointed lawyer Cynthia Kagiwada complained to Puglisi that the release of the text messages and new accusations of witness tampering is “another example of the government bringing out in public things that have nothing to do with the case.”

Puana has been in custody since his arrest Monday.

Kealoha rubbed her brother’s shoulder after Puana entered the courtroom in a white jumpsuit and sat next to her. She stepped back, turned to face Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin McDonald and shook her head as McDonald argued to have Puana held in custody without bail.

Puglisi denied the government’s request, ordered Puana released into the custody of his wife on $50,000 bond, half of which needs to be secured in cash, and ordered him to continue the substance abuse program he’s been in since his release from drug rehabilitation.

The indictment does not identify CC#4. Its descriptions, however, match those of Tiffany Masunaga who, along with former HPD officer Alan Ahn, was charged in state court in 2015 with multiple counts of drug promotion. The indictment says Puana distributed oxycodone, fentanyl and alprazolam to Masunaga and that Masunaga and Ahn, who the indictment designates as Individual C, provided Puana with cocaine.

Aspart of a plea deal, Masunaga pleaded no contest in September 2016 to reduced charges and has yet to be scheduled for sentencing. Her lawyer told state Attorney General Clare Connors that the deal, drafted by Kealoha, prevents Masunaga from cooperating and sharing information about the Puana drug conspiracy with federal investigators.