Ads by Google Ads by Google

He spilled his bag of potato chips on the ground and was arrested — but not for littering

Court Report logo
Read more about that and this week's other drug arrests
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On the night of Feb. 18, 2022, two cops observed Sio Lafoa’i spill a bag of potato chips on the ground after he and another male were pulled over at the Sobriety Checkpoint for an open container in the vehicle.

Lafoa’i was the passenger. (Samoa News is withholding the driver’s name, as he is yet to be criminally charged).

While Lafoa’i was dumping the potato chips, something thin and white fell out. A police officer went to pick it up and discovered that it was a small baggie containing a white crystalline substance, and two hand rolled cigarette joints that contained a green leafy substance.

Both Lafoa’i and the driver were taken in for questioning. The vehicle was also impounded but later released to Lafoa’i’s mother who was present during the interview. According to the government, the vehicle that was pulled over by police officers belonged to Lafoa’i.

When asked about the joint, Lafoa’i told police it belonged to him, that he bought it off a couple of guys in Taputimu, but he didn’t know their names, only that they usually walk around the area selling meth and weed.

Lafoa’i told police there was nothing illegal in the vehicle. An inventory was carried out, in the presence of both Lafoa’i and his mother. Police found a rolled up cigarette containing a green leafy substance and a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance in the vehicle.

The green leafy substance tested positive for THC, the active compound in marijuana and the white crystalline substance yielded positive results for methamphetamine (meth).

According to the government, Lafoa’i allegedly admitted to police that both the marijuana joint and the glass pipe belonged to him, and he bought the meth baggie from a friend in Vaitogi earlier that day. Furthermore, he had been drinking and took two puffs of the marijuana joint.

Lafoa’i made his initial appearance two months ago in Court where he waived his right to a preliminary examination. He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth one count of unlawful possession of marijuana — both felonies — and one count of underage drinking, a misdemeanor.

Bail is set at $10,000

WAYNE TOLAI

A man who is on probation for stealing was arrested again by police on the allegation he violated local drug laws.

Wayne Tolai was a passenger in a black pick-up truck that was pulled over by police two months ago in Iliili where two glass pipes, each containing a white crystalline substance, were found inside the right pocket of his pants.

The government claims that on the early morning of Feb. 15, 2022, two police officers patrolling the Tafuna and Iliili public highway observed a black pick-up truck with too many lights on the front portion of the vehicle.

Police officers immediately pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road. Three male individuals were inside the vehicle, including Tolai, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

The driver of the vehicle, Dave Afaese is the owner of the vehicle, who provided his valid immigration I.D and driver’s license to officers. The vehicle registration was also valid. Afaese received 3 traffic citations for the violations.

It was while officers were speaking to Afaese that Tolai opened the passenger’s door and exited the vehicle while placing both his hands inside his pants pocket. An officer instructed Tolai to stay inside the vehicle but he continued to walk to the back of the vehicle and at the same time was trying to reach inside the rear left pocket of his pants.

As the other officer walked over to the area where Tolai was standing, Tolai immediately took off and ran to the other side of the road and continued fleeing from the officer. Officers, along with the help from the driver of the vehicle and another male passenger chased Tolai for few minutes before he was apprehended and escorted back to where police units and the black truck were.

A body search was conducted on Tolai and officers discovered two small stamp sized baggies each containing a white crystalline substance inside. The white crystalline substance was tested, and found positive for methamphetamine (meth).

Tolai told officers he got the two baggies containing meth from his friend for $40, and it’s for his personal use, not for sale.

The driver of the vehicle was also interviewed by police regarding Tolai’s presence inside his vehicle during the traffic stop. The driver told officers that Tolai is an acquaintance, and that he was on his way to pick up his brother-in-law from work when Tolai flagged him down and asked for a ride back home to Vaitogi.

Tolai made his initial appearance in court. He’s charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, a felony, punishable by term of imprisonment from 5 to 10 years, a fine not more than $20,000, or both.

Bail is set at $5,000 and preliminary examination is scheduled for next week at 10a.m.

LATU LALOSAGA

A man accused of violating local drug laws had asked the court to set his matter for trial. Latu Laloasa, who had been in custody since his arrest last year, unable to post a $5,000 surety bond, appeared in court two months ago for his pretrial conference.

When his case was called, his defense attorney informed the court that they had received discovery and an offer from the government, however, after reviewing it, his client wishes to exercise his rights to a jury trial.

The court accepted the defense’s request for a trial, however, the court also informed the defense that due to the COVID-19 restrictions, there are other options they must consider such as a bench trial instead of jury trial.

Laloasa is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, a felony, punishable by imprisonment of not less than five nor more than 10 years, a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or both.

The charge against Laloasa stems from an incident when police arrested him and another man for disturbing the public peace. During a pat down, a small baggie containing meth was found inside his pants.

TAULAGA MARK

A man accused of violating local drug laws has entered into a plea agreement with the government. Taulaga Mark, who has been in custody since his arrest last year, appeared in High Court last month for a Change of Plea (COP) hearing.

Mark was initially charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine; one count of unlawful possession of firearms, all felonies; along with one count of unlawful possession of ammunition, a class A misdemeanor.

But under a plea agreement with the government, accepted last month, Mark pled guilty to the charge of unlawful possession of meth with intent to distribute, a felony, punishable by imprisonment from five to ten years, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.

By his guilty plea, Mark admits that on Nov. 27, 2020, he unlawful possessed illegal drugs with the intent to distribute.

Mark further admits that on the day of the incident, police conducted a body search suspecting that he was in possession of illegal drugs.

During that search, police discovered a medium baggie containing a quantity of meth. He also admits that police found 4 cut up straws containing meth in his possession.

According to court documents, Mark’s vehicle was pulled over by police for a traffic violation and Mark was seen taking a black bag from the vehicle that was allegedly involved in an illegal chase with police earlier.

The bag was found to contain a handgun (one .22 cal single-six); 11 bullets; 4 small cut up straws containing white crystalline substances (which tested positive for meth); a medium sized baggie containing white crystalline substances (tested positive for meth); 99 medium sized empty baggies; an iPhone 8 with a black phone cover and several other objects (all noted on property forms), and a total of $1,249 in cash.

Sentencing for Mareko is set for next month.

Co-defendant in this case is Willie Faletolu whose case is still pending in High Court.

TAFETA FILIPO

A man convicted of violating local drug laws has been ordered to depart the territory and remain outside of its borders for the duration of his 5-year probation sentence.

Tafeta Filipo, who appeared in Court last month for sentencing, has been in custody since his arrest Jan. 24, 2021, unable to post a $5,000 surety bond. He was initially charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. But under a plea agreement with the government, Filipo pled guilty to the amended charge of unlawful possession of marijuana.

Filipo admits that on the day in question, he had four marijuana joints when police conducted a body search on him. Filipo apologized and asked for a chance to return to his family in Samoa, so he can find a job to care for his parents.

He said what he did was wrong and apologized to the American Samoa Government not only for breaking the law but also disobeying Immigration laws by residing in the territory illegally. Filipo’s immigration papers expired three years before his arrest.

He is to serve 20 months at the TCF, but is credited with the 13 months he served in pretrial confinement and the balance is stayed until further order of the court.

A copy of the court's judgment and decision is to be delivered to Immigration to ensure Filipo’s name is on the lookout