The Department of the Attorney General in Honolulu has concluded prosecutions against two men involved in the sale of illegal aerial fireworks. These actions followed sting operations aimed at identifying and apprehending those distributing illegal fireworks ahead of the new year.
Wolfgang Clark entered a no contest plea today and received a deferred plea for two felony fireworks offenses, violating sections 132D-14 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Similarly, Daniel C. Young pled no contest on February 19, 2025, and was also granted a deferred plea for identical charges under the same statute.
Each offense is classified as a class C felony, which carries potential penalties of up to five years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. Despite objections from the state, both defendants were allowed deferred pleas, fined $5,000 each, and will be under court supervision for four years.
The Illegal Fireworks Task Force is actively working to prevent fireworks from entering Hawaii through its ports. On March 11, 2025, Explicit Pyrotechnics, LLC., along with its owner Josephine Quintanilla—also known by aliases Josephine Langas and Josephine Henderson—was charged with importing fireworks without valid licensing or permits. This charge is also a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Although possessing a federal permit, Explicit Pyrotechnics allegedly imported fireworks without obtaining the necessary state permit.
Mike Lambert, director of the Department of Law Enforcement stated: “The judgments in these cases are a step in the right direction for holding distributors accountable.” He added that increasing penalties could potentially reduce firework availability within the community.
These cases were handled by the Illegal Fireworks Task Force involving collaboration between the Hawaiʻi Department of Law Enforcement and the Honolulu Police Department. Prosecution was managed by the Criminal Justice Division of the Department of the Attorney General.