Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Faafetai Alesana was arrested by police two months ago on the allegation that he disturbed the public peace by yelling and engaging in a fight with two other males in front of a store in Fagaima. When police officers arrested Alesana, they found two glass pipes containing methamphetamine (meth) and one hand rolled marijuana joint in his possession.

The case against Alesana stems from an incident when a man from Fagaima contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for assistance after he was assaulted by two men in front of a store in the Tafuna area around 4:30p.m on Jan. 18, 2022.

Several police officers responded to the call and met up with the man who reported the matter, who later identified himself to police officers as the victim in this case.

The victim told officers that he was assaulted by two men who were drinking beer at the back of a store in Tafuna. Officers proceeded to the scene where the alleged assault took place and discovered one man sitting at the side of the store. The man was later identified as Faafetai Alesana, the defendant in this case.

Alesana was immediately placed inside a police unit while police interviewed the victim about what happened.

According to the victim’s statement, he lives in Ottoville and he was on his way to work when he was stopped by two men standing near the store who asked him for a cigarette and a light. The victim replied by saying that he does not smoke.

According to the victim’s statement to police, one man (the defendant) yelled profanities at him and instructed him to give him money to buy cigarettes. Again, the victim replied by saying that he only had $2 for his fare.

It was at that time the defendant walked over to the victim, grabbed the victim by the neck, punched him in the chest before he (defendant) pushed the victim away. Out of fear, the victim quickly ran away as soon as he got a chance.

The other man who was with the defendant threw a beer bottle at the victim but missed, instead hitting the road and breaking.

Before Alesana was transported to the TPS for questioning, he was patted down for weapons and illegal drugs. During the body search, police found two glass pipes containing meth and a small stamp-sized baggie containing one hand rolled marijuana joint.

When asked about the alleged assault, Alesana told police that it was his friend who assaulted the victim, not him. Alesana’s friend had fled the scene when he saw police. Alesana denied the victim’s allegation that he assaulted him.

When asked about the drugs found on his possession, Alesana admitted that the drugs belonged to him. He further stated that it was given to him by his friend who fled the scene when he saw police.

Alesana made his initial appearance in court two months ago.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, both unclassified felonies, punishable by imprisonment of 5-10 years and a fine of $5,000-$20,000; along with one count of 3rd-degree assault and public peace disturbance, both misdemeanors.

Bail is set at $10,000.

JACOB TAFUNA’I

A 26-year-old man who was released by the court several months ago on his own recognizance under the condition that he remain law abiding and stay alcohol and drug free, is now facing felony drug charges after he was re-arrested last month for alleged possession of marijuana.

Jacob Tafuna’i made his initial appearance in District Court last month.

Tafuna’i, who was charged last month with public peace disturbance (PPD), a class B misdemeanor, is now charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, and unlawful possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, both class D felonies, punishable by imprisonment of 5-10 years and a fine of $5,000-$20,000.

Bond is set at $10,000 and a preliminary examination is next Friday, July 10th at 10a.m.

THE CASE

On the evening of Feb. 12, detectives of the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit received information regarding a truck that was pulled over by traffic cops on the east side of the island. Illegal drugs were allegedly discovered in the back seat of the vehicle.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the driver, Tafuna’i, had been released several months prior following an arrest on a PPD charge.

A search of the vehicle, conducted in Tafuna’i presence, uncovered a black pouch in the back seat of the truck containing a medium plastic baggie holding 5 rolled cigarette joints (green leafy substance) that appeared to be marijuana. Also inside was a wallet with Tafuna’i driver's license and personal documents.

Police also discovered a separate medium sized plastic bag, containing cash and rolling papers. After the vehicle was searched, Tafuna’i was taken into custody for further questioning.

In his statement to police, Tafuna’i admitted that the vehicle, along with the illegal drugs discovered inside the black pouch, all belong to him. He told investigators that he had just returned from delivering drugs to three other people, and he got the marijuana joints from another male, and he was selling each joint for $10.

Police noted the name of the person Tafuna’i said from whom he got the drugs.

The green leafy substance that was found in the vehicle tested positive for THC, the active compound in marijuana.

JUSTIN IOSUA

A 34-year-old man is being charged with unlawful possession of drugs and for allegedly trying to break into a store in Pago Pago. Justin Iosua made his initial appearance in District Court last month.

Iosua who has a long history in the court system, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, and second degree attempted burglary — both class D felonies, along with disturbing the public peace (PPD), a class B misdemeanor.

Bond is set at $5,000.

TAYLOR VILIAMU

The driver of a vehicle pulled over by police officers during a traffic stop two months ago for speeding is now charged with violating local drug laws.

The driver, Taylor Viliamu made his initial appearance in court last month. He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, an unclassified felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or both.

Bail is set at $5,000

THE CASE

Two police officers were patrolling the Iliili road on Feb. 10, 2022 around 2:49p.m when they observed a vehicle coming from west to the east at a high rate of speed. Police officers immediately initiated a traffic stop and pulled over a pickup truck to the side of the road.

Upon approaching the vehicle, officers observed a male sitting in the driver’s seat with no other occupants in the vehicle. One police officer informed the driver of the reason for the traffic stop. The driver was later identified as Viliamu, the defendant in this case.

When asked for his driver’s license, the defendant told the officer that he has a driver’s license and that he was issued a citation for not having it in his possession before by another officer.

The officer requested a driver’s license check with Headquarters (HQ) and HQ relayed no information upon being contacted twice. Viliamu also did not carry an ID that would identify him. For that reason, the defendant was transported to the TPS for further investigation and his vehicle was also impounded.

Upon arrival at the TPS, officers conducted an inventory of the property inside the vehicle awaiting the owner to pick-up their vehicle. During the inventory search, officers discovered a white box below the rear left passenger seat that contained what appeared to be a clear pipe that is commonly used to smoking marijuana, along with a flowery patterned hand bag that had $247 in currency.

A Vice & Narcotics Unit detective tested the contents inside the glass pipe and results later revealed the substance tested positive for THC, the active compound in marijuana.

It was later found that Viliamu’s driver’s license had expired in April 2018.

After he was Mirandized, the defendant informed investigators that he understood his rights and refused to make a statement.