Carlos Frate, 41, of Kihei, Maui County, Hawaii, United States is a former officer with the Maui Police Department in Wailuku, Maui Island, Maui County. In a significant ruling regarding police misconduct and the abuse of authority, he was sentenced on February 27, 2026 to 65 months in federal prison.
The sentencing follows Frate’s earlier guilty plea regarding a violent encounter with an individual in custody, an act that federal prosecutors characterized as a blatant “deprivation of rights under color of law.”
Details of the assault
The criminal proceedings stem from an incident on January 6, 2024. During the encounter, Frate admitted to repeatedly deploying his taser against an arrestee who was neither resisting nor posing a physical threat to the officer or the public. Despite the victim’s desperate pleas for the discharge to stop, Frate continued the assault.
In Frate’s guilty plea in August 2025, he acknowledged that he was fully aware his use of force was unjustified and excessive at the time of the incident. Following his five-year-plus prison term, he will be required to serve three years of supervised release.
Statements from federal officials
The U.S. Department of Justice emphasized that such actions tarnish the badge worn by thousands of honorable officers. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division noted that Frate’s behavior was “abusive and unbecoming” of his professional oath. Dhillon reiterated the administration’s commitment to holding law enforcement officers accountable when they step outside the bounds of the law.
U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii echoed these sentiments, framing the sentence as a necessary reminder that the legal system applies to everyone, regardless of their position. He clarified that while most officers in Hawaii serve with integrity, the office remains dedicated to prosecuting the “rare occasion” where an officer violates public trust.
Impact on community trust
David Porter, the special agent in vharge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation‘s field office in Honolulu, Hawaii, highlighted the broader social consequences of Frate’s actions. Porter noted that such abuses of power make the daily work of honest law enforcement officers significantly more difficult by eroding the foundational trust between the police and the citizens they serve.
The investigation into Frate was initiated following a referral from the Maui Police Department itself. The case was ultimately prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorney Michael F. Albanese and trial attorney Julia White.
CONAN Daily 