Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 19, 2024, a store owner called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report an unknown male who allegedly stole a set of keys that accessed their washing and water machines.

The defendant was identified by the officers as a known criminal and was later charged with:

Count 1: Stealing, a class C felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 7 years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or an amount equal to twice the amount gained from the commission of the crime up to a maximum of $20,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Burglary in the Second Degree, a class C felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 7 years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant’s bail was set at $20,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Dec. 19th, at approximately 4:13 p.m., a store owner (later identified as the victim) contacted the TPS to report that an unknown male had stolen a set of keys from her counter.

Police proceeded to the said call and upon arrival at the store, the officers met up with the victim, where she briefed them regarding the matter.

According to the victim, a male had stolen a set of keys from the counter. The set of keys accessed all the washers and water machines that are located in front of the store.

The officers asked the victim if they could view the footage of what the suspect did. When viewing the camera footage, the officers were able to identify the suspect as Deion White, a known suspect from previous cases.

According to the victim, the suspect pretended to buy red wine at about 11:00 a.m. When the cashier turned around, the suspect took the keys hanging by the counter which included the keys to the washing machines. After the suspect took the keys, he left the store and came back around 11:39 a.m. and tried to open the washers’ coin trays but failed to do so. He then went to the water machine and successfully opened it and took the coins. These actions were recorded by the video camera.

The officers asked the victim for an estimate of earnings lost.

The victim told the officers that according to their water machine revenue last month, the loss was about $90. She also requested that she needed those keys back because the suspect would come back eventually and would be able to steal more.

The defendant is identified as a 26-year-old U.S National.