Former Maui Police Officer Sentenced to Over 5 Years for Excessive Force
A former officer with the Maui Police Department was sentenced to 65 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, for excessively using a taser on an arrestee during a traffic stop.
Carlos Frate pleaded guilty in August 2025 to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
“Today’s sentence should serve as a reminder that no one is above the law,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “While the vast majority of law enforcement officers conduct their duties with honor, integrity, and restraint, we are committed to bringing to justice those who violate the public trust by abusing their power or using excessive force.”
According to court documents, Frate admitted that in January 2024 he repeatedly tased an arrestee who was not resisting or posing a threat. Although Frate wrote in his police report that the suspect refused to exit the vehicle and assumed a fighting stance, prosecutors said that was not the case.
The indictment states that Frate deployed his taser without ordering the arrestee to the ground and fired a second time while the arrestee was on the ground with his hands raised in surrender. Frate acknowledged that he knew the force was unjustified but continued to tase the man despite pleas to stop.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case following a referral from the Maui Police Department.
“Trust between our citizens and the men and women of law enforcement who serve them is foundational to the safety and success of any community,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “By using excessive force and abusing the power entrusted in him, the defendant didn’t just break the law — he betrayed the community’s trust and made the job more difficult for the vast majority of officers who serve honorably every day.”
Frate was fired by the Maui Police Department following his indictment.
