Federal jury convicts Maui man of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

US Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Christopher Grindling, 58, of Kahului, Maui, was found guilty on Nov. 5, 2026, following a three-day jury trial before Senior US District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi, of possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 25, 2027 before Judge Kobayashi.

According to court documents, Grindling was identified during an online law enforcement operation targeting individuals seeking sex with minors, the US Attorney’s Office reports. As presented and proven at trial, during the operation, Grindling offered drugs and cash to an undercover officer in exchange for sex on a popular dating application, the department reports.

Officers with the Maui Police Department subsequently executed a search warrant at Grindling’s home and found approximately 113 grams of methamphetamine locked in a safe and nearby, as well as hundreds of small plastic baggies and a digital scale, according to the US Attorney’s Office.

At sentencing, Grindling faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, plus a term of supervised release of at least five years. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Maui Police Department. Assistant US Attorneys Gregg Paris Yates and Arisa R. Herman are prosecuting the case.