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Man accused of selling marijuana joints at cannery pleads guilty

Just say no to marijuana
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 29-year-old man accused of selling marijuana joints at the cannery earlier this year has pled guilty.

Detectives from the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit arrested Allen Paulo Jr. on Jan. 22, 2018 after receiving information from StarKist Samoa employees that Paulo Jr. was selling drugs to cannery workers.

The defendant was initially charged with two felonies: unlawful possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), and unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

But under a plea agreement with the government, Paulo Jr. pled guilty to unlawful possession on a controlled substance, to wit; marijuana. The remaining charge was dismissed.

With his guilty plea, Paulo Jr. admits that on Jan. 22, 2018 at the StarKist Samoa compound in Atu’u, he had in his possession a small bag containing 13 marijuana joints. He further admits that on the day he was arrested, he sold some of the marijuana joints to cannery employees.

When Acting Associate Justice Elvis P. Patea asked the defendant what he did with all the marijuana joints he had, Paulo Jr. said he sold it to cannery workers.

 As part of the plea agreement, the government is recommending a probated sentence. Paulo Jr. remains in custody at the TCF, unable to post a $5,000 bond.

Sentencing is set for Jan 30, 2019 at 9 a.m.

Paulo Jr. is represented by Public Defender Michael White while prosecuting the case is Assistant Attorney General Laura Garvey.