Kauaʻi man sentenced to over 29 years imprisonment for federal charges
David Borges, a resident of Kōloa, was sentenced in federal court to 352 months in prison and five years of supervised release for extortion, drug trafficking, and firearm charges on Thursday.
Borges, 43, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor after pleading guilty to charges of extortion, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and distributing a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson.
Borges has been detained since he was transferred to federal custody from the state of Hawaiʻi on March 9, 2023.
According to court records, Borges and co-defendant, 49-year-old Albert Bactad of Līhuʻe, extorted and stole $2,500 in cash, drugs, a firearm, and an automobile from two men during separate incidents on Kauaʻi on Dec. 26 and 27, 2021.
During the crimes, Borges and Bactad assaulted both victims, one of whom sustained facial injuries requiring surgery, threatened the victims with firearms, abducted one of the victims, and held the other for ransom.
Borges also engaged in drug trafficking on Kauaʻi, including:
- Possessing with intent to distribute nine grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm on April 26, 2022;
- Conspiring with Denise Kalani, 62, of Līhuʻe, to distribute 1,100 grams of methamphetamine and 50 grams of fentanyl;
- Distributing a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine to four men on January 26, 2023.
“Borges and his confederates have been a dangerous menace to our community – plaguing it with drugs and violence – and today’s lengthy sentence is a resounding affirmation of our solemn commitment to convicting and punishing those who profit through the pain and misery deadly drugs like crystal methamphetamine bring to our islands,” Sorenson said. “Today’s sentence finally brings an end to the reign of terror Borges and his confederates brought to the people of Hawaiʻi.”
Sorenson and Police Chief Kalani Ke stated that law enforcement partners such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives aim to root out those who endanger and victimize communities.
“This conviction represents a major step forward in protecting our community from the devastation caused by drugs and violence,” said Kauaʻi Police Department Chief Kalani Ke. “For years, this individual has terrorized our island, putting our families and neighborhoods at risk. Together, we remain committed to safeguarding the people of Kauaʻi and will continue our mission to keep dangerous individuals off our streets.”
Borges is the last defendant in his case to be sentenced, and his co-defendants were sentenced as follows:
- On March 13, 2025, Bactad was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release on his guilty plea to a charge of extortion;
- On April 8, 2025, Kalani was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release on her guilty plea to a charge of conspiring with Borges to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl;
- On Sept. 9, 2024, Wayne Inouye, 49, of Līhuʻe, was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release on his guilty plea to a charge of conspiring to obstruct justice arising from his efforts on behalf of Bactad to secure false written statements from the two victims extorted by Borges and Albert Bactad;
- On Sept. 5, 2024, Robin Takiguchi, 54, of Līhuʻe, was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release on his guilty plea to a charge of conspiring to obstruct justice arising from his efforts on behalf of Albert Bactad to secure false written statements from the two victims extorted by Borges and Albert Bactad;
- On March 12, 2025, Mahina Bactad, 29, of Kapaʻa, was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release on her guilty plea to a charge of conspiring to obstruct justice arising from her efforts on behalf of Albert Bactad to secure false written statements from the two victims extorted by Borges and Bactad.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Kauaʻi Police Department, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig S. Nolan prosecuted the case.