Today, Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that a Mountain View man, 59 year-old Loran Gross, who has ten (10) prior felony convictions, was charged with firearms and drug related offenses.
As the Complaint alleges, Gross was charged with fourteen (14) counts of Ownership or Possession Prohibited, related to various firearms, two (2) counts of Ownership or Possession Prohibited of Ammunition, Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Facilitate the Commission of a Felony Drug Offense, Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree (methamphetamine), Attempted Commercial Promotion of Marijuana in the First Degree, related to the attempted distribution of over five (5) pounds of marijuana or more, and three (3) counts of Commercial Promotion of Marijuana in the First Degree, related to possession of over twenty-five (25) pounds of marijuana and possessing over a hundred marijuana plants in two separate locations.
Gross is scheduled to make his initial appearance on the charges this afternoon in Hilo District Court. Gross remains in custody in lieu of $660,000 bail.
The investigation was handled by the Area I Vice Section, Hawai’i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Elyssa Correia-Keltner.
The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney remains dedicated to the pursuit of justice with integrity and commitment. Anyone having information concerning illegal firearms and illegal narcotics distribution should call the Hawai‘i Police Department Vice Section in East Hawai‘i at (808) 961-2258 or in West Hawai‘i at (808) 326-4646 Ext. 226, or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 in East Hawai‘i or (808) 329-8181 in West Hawai‘i.
HPD Release:
Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged a Mountain View man with 22 drug and firearms offenses after recovering 27.2 pounds of dried marijuana, 232 live marijuana plants, 14 rifles, and more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition.
Area I Vice detectives arrested 59-year-old Loran Jeffrey Gross on Friday, July 30, 2021, following the execution of a narcotics search warrant at a residence in the Mountain View area.
In addition to the substantial amount of dried marijuana, the marijuana plants, rifles, and ammunition, police also recovered a semi-automatic hand gun, a methamphetamine smoking pipe, and various drug paraphernalia during the search of the residence.
Gross, who has 10 prior felony convictions, was charged for three counts commercial promotion of marijuana in the first degree, one count attempted commercial promotion of marijuana in the first degree, one count promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree, 14 counts ownership or possession prohibited firearms, two counts ownership or possession prohibited ammunition, and one count possession of firearm with the intent to facilitate commission of a felony drug offense. His bail was set at $660,000.
He remains in custody pending his initial court appearance, Monday, August 2, in South Hilo District Court.