Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On May 11, 2026, a man contacted the Tafuna Police Substation to report an alleged burglary at a residence in Nuuuli.

A 27-year-old man from Nuuuli is now facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly breaking into the residence and stealing more than $10,000 in cash. He spent some of the money on personal purchases and also distributed some of it to individuals he encountered along the road.

Suspect, Paris Fatulau, was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Burglary in the Second Degree, a class C Felony, a crime punishable by imprisonment not to exceed seven years or fined not more than $5,000 or both;

Count 2: Stealing, a class C Felony, a crime punishable by imprisonment not to exceed seven years or fined not more than $5,000 or both; and,

Count 3: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of not more than $500, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the court affidavit, the incident was initially reported to the TPS by a neighbor who had been approached by the homeowner (victim) after she discovered that her residence had been burglarized.

Police officers responded to the scene and launched a preliminary investigation before the case was referred to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) for further investigation.

The victim reported that at approximately 3:00 a.m. on the morning of May 11, 2026, Fatulau arrived at her residence and knocked on the door attempting to sell her chicken. The homeowner told him to leave because it was late and she was not interested in making a purchase.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., the victim discovered that her purse was missing from inside the house. The victim also claimed that her purse contained more than $10,000 in cash, primarily in $100 and $20 denominations, along with important personal documents.

(The victim later discovered that an employee had failed to properly secure an exterior garage door.)

As part of the investigation, officers conducted a neighborhood canvass. During the search, the victim's purse was located near a roadway leading toward Fatulau's residence. The discovery prompted investigators to continue gathering evidence and identifying potential witnesses.

Police also reviewed surveillance footage obtained from businesses located across from the Manumalo Baptist School. Investigators reported that footage from AB Mart and Ricky's Phone Repair Shop showed Fatulau making purchases shortly after the burglary occurred.

Moreover, an employee at AB Mart identified Fatulau as purchasing a camouflage backpack and paying with a $100 bill. Investigators also interviewed an employee at Ricky's Phone Repair Shop, who identified Fatulau as the individual who purchased a Samsung cellular phone valued at more than $300 and paid with four $100 bills.

On May 14, 2026, investigators interviewed Fatulau in Tafuna. Authorities stated that before questioning began, Fatulau was advised that he was not under arrest, was free to leave at any time, and was not obligated to answer questions. Fatulau acknowledged that he understood and agreed to speak with investigators.

During the interview, Fatulau allegedly admitted that he entered the victim's residence through an unlocked door at approximately 5:00 a.m. on May 11. He reportedly told investigators that after entering the home, he observed the victim's purse on a sofa and looked inside, where he found a large amount of cash.

Court records further stated that Fatulau admitted taking the purse and leaving the residence with it. He further admitted removing the cash from the purse and later discarding the purse near a rock fence. Investigators said Fatulau confessed to using the stolen money to purchase items for himself, including the backpack and cellular phone seen in the surveillance footage.

Authorities stated in addition Fatulau admitted he was the individual captured on surveillance video at both businesses. Investigators noted that his statements were consistent with evidence collected during the investigation.

In an unusual detail contained in court records, Fatulau told investigators that he gave portions of the stolen money to children and adults that he met while traveling along the roadway and wished them a “Happy Mother's Day”.

”Based on the victim's statement, witness interviews, surveillance footage, recovered evidence, and Fatulau's alleged confession, investigators concluded there was probable cause to believe he committed the offenses,” according to the affidavit.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on June 03, 2026

As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision.]