Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Sentencing for Meriko Lomu is scheduled to Feb. 8, 2019. This comes after the High Court accepted her plea agreement yesterday.

Lomu, 24, is charged in two separate cases — both involving illegal drugs.

In the first case, Lomu agreed to plead guilty to possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. In the second case, she entered a guilty plea to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute - both are felonies and each count is punishable by a jail term of not more than 20 years, a fine of up to $20,000 or both.

The remaining charges were dismissed.

With her guilty pleas, Lomu admits that on Apr. 15,  2018 she was in possession of a bag of weed that she intended to distribute. Also, on May 15, 2018, numerous bags of "ice" were found on her and her co-defendant.

BACKGROUND

Lomu was facing four identical drug charges in two separate cases, stemming from a controlled buy and a raid of two homes in Pago Pago that netted illegal drugs and paraphernalia last year.

According to testimony by the lead investigator, Lomu was suspected of selling drugs, mainly marijuana, in Fagatogo. A controlled buy was carried out.

Afterwards, police asked the court for a warrant to search a two-story structure belonging to Sio Godinet Jr., who owned the vehicle Lomu was in, during the controlled buy.

The May 15th search uncovered drugs and paraphernalia inside a room on the first floor. Police found Lomu and a male inside that same room.

Drugs found included 10 grams of marijuana, a huge amount of methamphetamine, and paraphernalia: 4 glass pipes containing methamphetamine, 2 glass pipes containing marijuana, several empty small baggies, cut-up straws, and cash.

Lomu is represented by private attorney Talaimalo Marcellus Uiagalelei and prosecuting for the government is Assistant Attorney General Laura Garvey.