A Maui man who allegedly robbed a bank in Kīhei last year pled guilty to bank robbery in U.S. court Thursday.
Justin Nelson, 43, reportedly robbed a Kīhei branch of the First Hawaiian Bank on Aug. 27, 2025. According to an FBI affidavit, Nelson — dressed in a baseball cap, dust mask, balaclava and sunglasses — entered the bank one morning, approached the bank tellers and brandished what appeared to be a firearm.
The robber commanded the two tellers present to each put cash in a shopping bag. Within a minute, he had collected $4,885 in marked and unmarked bills, and departed the bank.
Investigators were able to track the robber’s movements throughout Kīhei using CCTV cameras and, within 15 minutes, Maui police officers confronted and arrested him on the sidewalk of Kauha‘a Street. According to the FBI report, Nelson was approaching a parked car, registered in his name, when he was arrested.
Upon his arrest, the robber — positively identified at this time as Nelson — was found to have only an airsoft pistol on his person, as well as $3,681 in cash. It was not clear in the FBI report what happened to the remaining $804.
However, the FBI report did note that a Maui Police Department officer reportedly overheard Nelson tell his father — during a phone call at the police station — “I robbed two banks.” Court records make no mention of a second robbery connected with Nelson.
In any case, Nelson was charged with bank robbery, a felony charge. Because Nelson reportedly used the threat of violence to carry out the robbery — regardless of whether the gun was genuine — he faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and supervised release of up to three years.
Nelson’s sentencing is set to take place Dec. 18.
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