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Drugs and cash allegedly found during traffic stop leads to arrests

American Samoa District Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two men were arrested last month after drugs were discovered inside the vehicle in which they had been traveling and in their possession. Furthermore, one of the two suspects is on probation for a drug conviction from last year.

Foma’i Sanerivi, who is on probation and his friend, Konelio Fineaso made their initial appearances in court last month.

Defendants are each charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, both unclassified felonies, punishable by an imprisonment term from 5-10 years, and a fine of up to $20,000.

The court established bail for each defendant at $5,000.

THE CASE

On May 9, 2022 at about 7:20.p.m three police officers initiated a traffic stop in front of the KS Mart in the Tafuna area when they observed the car speeding.  During the stop, an unknown male, later identified as Konelio Fineaso (co-defendant), seen sitting in the front passenger’s seat, opened his door and walked towards the store.

Officers instructed him to get back inside the car, but he refused to cooperate and continued walking fast towards the left side of KS Mart. Officers continued to instruct Fineaso to get back inside the vehicle or they would arrest him, but he continued to refuse and kept on walking away from the vehicle that had been stopped.

At some point, Fineaso stopped, turned around and asked the police officer why he’s bothering him while he’s heading to the store to buy food for his children. Officers explained to Fineaso the reason why they wanted him back in the vehicle, saying they needed to speak to him and the driver of the vehicle.

Fineaso told officers to wait until he’s done with his shopping because it’s almost 8 and the store closes at that time. He was told to return to the car, but he still did not comply and instead turned around and continued walking to the store.

Officers then followed him and quickly apprehended him and placed him in a police unit. When he was apprehended, officers could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from his clothes and his breath.

At the same time, the driver, who later identified himself as Foma’i Sanerivi, one of the co-defendants in this matter, was approached by another officer. As the officer was speaking to Sanerivi, he saw three empty small stamp-sized baggies (commonly used to sell meth) lying on the floor under the passenger’s seat.

Sanerivi was instructed to exit the vehicle. He was then apprehended.

Officers informed the driver of the reasons for the vehicle stop, and asked him for his driver’s license or other ID. Sanervi said he didn’t bring his wallet with him. Contact with the central police station found that there was not record of  Sanervi having a driver’s license and he was then informed of his vehicle being impounded at the TPS.

While Sanerivi was speaking to officers, the other officer standing on the left side of the vehicle observed the suspect trying to move his left foot. The same officer further observed two empty small stamp sized baggies lying on the vehicle’s floor under the driver’s seat.

Officers asked Sanerivi about the empty small stamp sized baggies lying on the floor under his seat, and he told officers that the vehicle doesn’t belong to him, it belongs to his partner’s uncle.

During pat down, Sanerivi informed officers that he would empty his own pockets, which he did. A glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance came out of his pants pocket, as well as four small stamp sized baggies containing a green leafy substance.

Officers also found $360 inside Sanerivi’s wallet.

The co-defendant, Fineaso was also patted down, where a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance was found inside the right pocket of his pants, along with $650 cash found inside his other pocket.

Officers also found two small stamp sized baggies containing a green leafy substance inside Fineaso’s rear pocket.

At the TPS, officers conducted an inventory search on the vehicle in the presence of Fineaso. During the inventory search, officers discovered several empty small stamp size baggies (commonly used to sell meth and marijuana) under the driver’s seat, as well as more illegal drugs.

Both defendants were interviewed by officers in different rooms after they were Mirandized. Fineaso wished to make a statement while his friend, Sanerivi decided to remain silent.

In Fineaso’s statement, he places the blame on Sanerivi for driving too fast as the reason they were pulled over.

According to Fineaso, he has known Sanerivi for many years now and he is like a brother to him. Earlier on that day, they worked at their plantation for three hours before they decided to end their work and went to visit another friend in Vaitogi.

When they were about to go home, their friend gave Sanerivi a small black pouch containing drugs and money. It was on their way home when Sanerivi gave him a glass pipe containing meth and two stamp sized baggies containing marijuana, along with money while he, Sanerivi, kept the rest of the stuff.

The white crystalline substance found on both defendants and inside the vehicle tested positive for meth, while the green leafy substance tested positive result for THC, the active compound in marijuana.

BACKGROUND

In November of 2020, Sanerivi was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment after being convicted of unlawful possession of marijuana. As a condition of his probation, he served 20 months at the TCF.

His conviction stemmed from an incident where he was arrested for disturbing the public peace at his village during a drinking session with other men.

At the TPS, police saw Sanerivi hide something under the table inside the room. He was searched by police and they discovered two hand rolled marijuana cigarettes in his pocket. Sanerivi told police that he was selling marijuana joints belonging to a friend.