Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man with an outstanding warrant for stealing is now charged with unlawful possession of illegal drugs after police discovered them in his possession.

Lumana’i Faaloma made his initial appearance in court last month. The government has filed two separate cases against Faaloma.

In the first case, Faaloma is charged with stealing, a class C felony, punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years, a $5,000 fine, or pursuant to A.S.C.A 46.2101, a fine equal to twice the amount of gain from the commission of said crime, up to a maximum of $20,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Bail in this case is set at $5,000.

In the second case, Faaloma is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, to wit; methamphetamine (meth), a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five or more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or both.

Bail in this case is also set at $5,000.

THE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION CASE

On June 10, 2022, several police officers conducting a routine patrol on the public highway of Nu’uuli village spotted Lumana’i Faaloma, who had an outstanding warrant on him, driving a vehicle. They followed him to the parking lot of a store, where he was approached and informed of the outstanding warrant in his name.

Faaloma then attempted to turn his vehicle back on, but officers grabbed his hand and stopped him from starting the vehicle. However, he continued to resist, and after several moments of scuffling with Faaloma, the officers were able to pull him out of the vehicle and place handcuffs on him.

He was then transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS).

It was during transportation to TPS that Faaloma told an officer that he had a straw containing meth on him.

When the police unit arrive at the TPS parking lot, Faaloma asked the police officer again to help him by getting rid of the straw containing meth and he would return the favor if he’s released.

Again, the officer told Faaloma to wait until they got inside TPS and then he would get a chance to say whatever he wanted to say to the investigators.

Upon arrival at the TPS, Faaloma was presented with copies of the outstanding warrant in his name. Faaloma was then informed that they needed to conduct an inventory search on the rental vehicle he was driving and Faaloma agreed.

The inventory search discovered three straws and a glass pipe, all contained a white crystalline substance.

The matter was then transferred to the DPS Vice and Narcotics Unit (VNU) for further investigation.

When questioned by investigators from the VNU, after he was Mirandized, Faaloma stated that he understood his rights and he wished to make a verbal statement to investigators. He explained to investigators that the reason he was hiding from law enforcement was because he’s doing illegal stuff, such as drugs.

He stated that the drugs discovered in the rental car did not belong to him, but to his cousin who rented the car two days prior to the arrest. He said he borrowed the rental car from his cousin because his wife and children were using the family vehicle for shopping.

However, he was shocked when he got inside the vehicle and discovered the three straws containing white crystalline substance. Out of carelessness, Faaloma said he then picked up the straws and put them under the passenger’s seat.

When asked about his cousin’s identification, Faaloma did not reply.

Faaloma was then transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) where he was booked and confined.

THE STEALING CASE FROM 2020

On Dec. 23 , 2019, the manager of a store in Tafuna called the TPS regarding an item stolen from the store. Several police officers responded to the call to investigate the matter and were told by the store manager along with several employees that the stolen item was a Galaxy Note 3X phone, and the male, who stole the phone was later identified as Lumana’i Faaloma, the defendant in this matter.

Security footage was checked and it confirmed that Faaloma left the store with the phone in his possession. When asked by officers how he came to identify Faaloma, the employee who gave Faaloma the phone told officers that they are both from Tafuna.

It was five days later that Faaloma was arrested and was taken into the TPS for questioning in a drug case. While questioning Faaloma, a police sergeant recalled the matter of the stolen phone from the store.

Faaloma was asked about the cell phone alleged to have been stolen five days previously, and he stated that on Dec. 28, he went back to the store to return the cellphone and paid $100 and the matter was settled with the owner.

Investigators contacted the the store’s manager and the manager told investigators that Faaloma had shown up at the store the next day but she stopped him from entering the store until he brought back the phone, and according to the manager he has not returned the phone and she has not seen him since.