Hawai’i Island police arrested and charged 32-year-old William Kaipo Jr., of Hilo, with an array of offenses including forgery and theft.

The charges against Kaipo stem from a May 13 at a Hilo business where he attempted to purchase merchandise with a counterfeit $100 bill.

Officers located Kaipo in a vehicle near the store and arrested him for forgery, and for an outstanding arrest warrant for forgery.

On May 14, detectives executed a search warrant on Kaipo Jr.’s vehicle which resulted in the recovery of:

Numerous counterfeit $100 bills
Numerous legitimate $1 bills
Numerous “washed” bills in various denominations
Instructions to produce counterfeit currency and instructions on how to “wash” currency
A color printer
An ultraviolet counterfeit detection device and counterfeit detection pens

A police investigation revealed that Kaipo Jr. was a significant figure in the distribution and utilization of counterfeit currency being passed into the community. Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and be aware that there may still be counterfeit bills circulating across Hawaiʻi Island.

After conferring with the Hawai’i County Prosecutor’s Office, detectives charged Kaipo Jr. with the following offenses:

First-degree theft (four counts)
Fourth-Degree theft

The initial investigation was conducted by South Hilo Patrol Officers and was continued by Detectives Jenny Lee and Kimo Keli’ipa’akaua of HPD’s Area I Criminal Investigations Section.

Anyone with  information regarding this crime should call (808) 961-2255.

 

HPD Photo