Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Malae Faleulu was ordered to serve 20 months at the TCF as a condition of his 5-year probation and was released after sentence was stayed.

Faleulu, who has been in custody since his arrest, unable to post a $10,000 surety bond, appeared in Court last week for sentencing.

The government charged Faleulu in two separate cases: first-degree burglary and stealing in the first case, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth) in the second case.

But under a plea agreement with the government, Faleulu pled guilty to stealing and the amended charge of unlawful possession of meth.

Faleulu admits that on Jan. 20, 2021, he entered government property at the Industrial Park in the Tafuna area and took off with equipment, which he later sold to a man for drugs. One month later in February, when he was arrested for the stealing case, cops found on him two glass pipes containing meth.

When given the chance to speak, Faleulu apologized and asked for forgiveness. He asked the court to allow him to depart the territory and return to Hawaii where his parents reside, so he can find a job and care for them.

Attorneys from both sides asked for probation.

The court told the defense attorney that the court would suspend its sentence and allow him to return to his parents if there is a return airline ticket for Faleulu to return to the U.S.

Faleulu was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. Execution of the sentence was suspended and he was placed on probation for 5 years subject to several conditions including that he serve 20 months at the TCF. He was credited for the time he spent in pretrial confinement, which was 12 months and the remainder was stayed.

Faleulu was released after he was sentenced by the court.