Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 10, 2026, a storeowner from Nu’uuli contacted the local authorities and reported a suspect who allegedly altered two payroll checks to significantly increase their value before cashing them at a local convenience store in Nu'uuli.

The suspect was later charged with:

Count 1 & 2: Stealing, a class C felony, punishable by imprisonment not to exceed seven years, or a fine not more than $5,000 or both; and,

Count 3 & 4: Forgery, a class C felony, punishable by imprisonment not to exceed seven years, or a fine not more than $5,000 or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $30,000.

According to court documents, the investigation began on or about July 10, 2026, after the owner of a convenience store reported that the defendant, later identified as Talitiga Crawley, had negotiated and cashed two payroll checks for amounts substantially higher than those originally issued by her employer.

Investigators determined that the first payroll check had originally been issued for $111.77, but was altered and later negotiated for $711.77. A second payroll check, originally issued for $46.50, was similarly altered and negotiated for $746.50.

The store owner provided investigators with copies of the negotiated checks along with bank records showing that one of the altered checks had been returned, resulting in a chargeback for the full negotiated amount and an additional bank fee.

Moreover, store employees confirmed that the defendant presented payroll checks exceeding $700 and used the proceeds to purchase merchandise, including groceries and cigarettes, while also receiving cash back.

Investigators determined that through the altered transactions, the defendant received approximately $600 more than she was entitled to from the first check and approximately $700 more from the second check.

Payroll records obtained from the defendant's employer confirmed the original amounts of both checks.

A comparison of those records with the negotiated checks allegedly revealed that the numeral "7" had been inserted before the original dollar amounts, increasing the value of each payroll check by several hundred dollars.

The employee responsible for issuing payroll checks confirmed to investigators that the defendant had been issued only $111.77 for the first paycheck and $46.50 for the second paycheck.

Court documents also stated that the defendant was later interviewed by investigators after being advised of her constitutional rights. She reportedly waived her rights and provided a written statement.

According to investigators, the defendant admitted that she personally altered both payroll checks by adding the numeral "7" before the original dollar amounts.

The defendant allegedly told investigators that she altered the checks because she needed additional money to contribute to her brother's saofa'i, a traditional Samoan chiefly title bestowment ceremony, in Apia, Samoa, and her regular paychecks were not enough to cover the expense.

She further admitted that after cashing the altered checks, she sent approximately $500 from each transaction to her brother for the family contribution and used the remaining proceeds for personal expenses.

According to the investigation, the defendant fraudulently obtained approximately $1,300 through the unauthorized alteration and negotiation of the two payroll checks.

Investigators determined that only $158.27 of the total amount she received was legitimately owed to her.

The case remains pending before the court.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on July 15, 2026.

As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision.]