Kailua, Hawaii – Vaughn Ludwig, 50, of Kailua, pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl. United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced the plea, with sentencing scheduled for September 30, 2026, before Chief Judge Derrick K. Watson.
Ludwig admitted in his plea agreement to conspiring with narcotics suppliers from approximately November 2024 to May 2025 to obtain fentanyl for distribution across Hawaii. He was arrested on May 1, 2025, possessing approximately 70.84 grams of fentanyl and $2,708 in drug proceeds. Ludwig also knowingly assisted in the distribution of heroin and fentanyl from a Waikiki hotel.
One of Ludwig’s suppliers, Charles Saikley, separately pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026, to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Ludwig now faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, with a potential sentence of up to life, along with a supervised release term of at least five years.
The FBI is investigating the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker is prosecuting. This action is part of "Operation Take Back America," a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, eliminating cartels, and protecting communities from violent crime.