Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The government case against Ameperosa Laasaga was bound over to the High Court after the court found probable cause during a preliminary hearing last week.

The court pointed out that it is clear from the evidence that Laasaga was the one who handed the small stamp-sized baggie containing methamphetamine (meth) to a Confidential Informant (CI) during an alleged exchange of cash and drugs.

The court also noted from the evidence that there allegedly were multiple controlled buys involved the defendant and the CI, and all of these alleged controlled buys involved cash and more drugs.

Laasaga, who is out on a $15,000 surety bond is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, meth, with intent to distribute; and one count of unlawful possession of meth; one count of unlawful possession of marijuana and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; all felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.

The government called one witness, who is also the lead investigator —during the PX last week.

The government witness testified that in the beginning of this year, the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit received intel regarding a male by the name of “TAKA” selling meth from his Ottoville home and also on the street using his vehicle. Police were also informed that there were other males helping TAKA sell drugs from his home.

TAKA was later identified as Ameperosa Laasaga, the defendant in this case.

Between August 2021 and January 2022, the witness, along with another detective conducted a controlled buy using a CI in an effort to establish proof that Laasaga was involved in selling drugs from his home in Ottoville and his parents home in Happy Valley in the Tafuna area.

When asked whether he received any training on how to conduct an investigation regarding drugs, and how to identify illegal drugs including meth, the witness said no; however he noted that his supervisors, who were senior detectives in the Department of Public Safety (DPS), trained him on the job and that he has been involved in investigating many cases involving illegal drugs.

The witness testified to several controlled buys conducted within a 2-month period with the CI, from the original phone call to Laasaga for the buy; to the controlled buy where ‘marked’ money was allegedly exchanged for illegal drugs; to the testing of the substances to verify that they were illegal drugs.

An explanation of the ‘controls’ used by the investigators to make sure the buys were ‘clean’ was also given, including that the CI was body searched for possible contraband before and after the controlled buys.

On cross-examination, the defense attorney asked the witness why he asked the CI to be part of a controlled buy from his client. The government’s witness said they had received from several sources a lot of info claiming that Laasaga was selling drugs and that some of those sources were people who bought drugs from Laasaga.

The government witness further told the defense attorney that the meeting between the CI and Laasaga proved the CI’s account that Laasaga was involved in selling illegal drugs from his home.

When the defense attorney asked the witness if he actually saw Laasaga hand over the baggie containing meth to the CI, the witness replied, yes.

“So, what is the name of your CI?” the defense attorney asked the witness.

The government’s attorney objected and told the court the rules are clear, the name of the CI should not be revealed. The court agreed and told the defense attorney that the court doesn’t want to know the CI’s identity.

“This is a probable cause hearing. You can argue that motion in High Court,” the court told the defense attorney.

The defense did try and ask about the search of Laasaga’s home for illegal drugs after the controlled buys, but the court interrupted and said that the charges before the court are based on the controlled buys, not the search.

Laasaga entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him when he appeared in Court last week for his arraignment.

His pretrial conference is now set for Aug. 26, 2022.

THE FIRST CASE AGAINST LAASAGA

The government has also charged Laasaga in a separate case with unlawful possession of illegal drugs, including the intent to distribute, as well as weapons charges.

These charges stem from an incident when cops executed a search warrant on Laasaga’s residence in Ottoville, following the controlled buys. During the search, according to the government’s case, cops discovered drugs, weapons, paraphernalia and cash.

Laasaga, along with two co-defendants, were arrested during the search and each was charged with violating local drug laws.

Bail for this case is a $20,000 surety bond.