Ex-HPU athlete admits having Ecstasy
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
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A former Hawai'i Pacific University standout softball player admitted in federal court yesterday that she took part in a scheme to sell dozens of tablets of the illicit drug Ecstasy on two occasions earlier this year.
Kellie Nishikida, 20, pleaded guilty to a single count of knowingly possessing with the intent to distribute 170 Ecstasy tablets on Jan. 13 and 14. The Pearl City High School graduate faces up to 20 years in a federal prison and a fine of $1 million when she is sentenced Sept. 10 by U.S. District Judge Michael Seabright.
Nishikida remains free on a $25,000 signature bond.
Nishikida was one of four women arrested and charged with being part of a ring to sell Ecstasy, a meth-amphetamine, on military bases and elsewhere. Krystle Kido and Natasha Hanson have pleaded guilty to their roles in the ring, and Jade Dixon pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway on May 4 to a role in an ecstasy drug ring.
Yesterday, Nishikida, dressed in blue jeans and a brown hooded jacket, admitted that she was part of the drug ring. About a half-dozen family members and supporters were in the courtroom.
"I met up with two other lady friends (Jan. 13) and agreed to sell them Ecstasy pills," she told Seabright.
Prosecutors said Nishikida planned to sell 110 pills to Hanson and Kido that day and another 60 pills to Hanson on Jan. 14. But federal agents arrested Hanson and Kido on Jan. 13 and were in the parking lot of the Pearl City Wal-Mart the following day to arrest Nishikida after she arranged to meet Hanson for the second deal.
As part of her plea agreement, the government agreed not to pursue additional charges against Nishikida and will not ask that she be sentenced to the maximum term.
Nishikida did not comment after the proceedings. Her attorney, Howard Luke, said he did not know what kind of sentence Nishikida would receive.
"I'm hopeful for as low a sentence as possible," Luke said. "She's already suffered quite a bit. She's a very, very young woman, a very good person."
Nishikida no longer is in school and told Seabright that she is working at Ige's Catering and a Subway restaurant.
Luke said he hopes this case sends a message that possessing and selling Ecstasy is a serious offense.
"The perception of the drug is that it is not as serious as the government has defined it to be, and that's a huge problem," Luke said. "A lot of young people are surprised to find that they would obtain any more than a slap on the wrist, if that. As it turns out, it's a serious felony, and the federal government has prosecuted cases without much leniency."
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel Colwell.
Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Correction: Jade Dixon pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway on May 4 to a role in an ecstasy drug ring. A previous version of this story inaccurately reported that the case against her was pending.
