Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 4, 2026, the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) received a phone call from a concerned family member reporting that a household item had not been returned after being borrowed by another relative.

Justin Gago was later charged with Count 1: Stealing, a class C felony punishable by imprisonment not to exceed seven years, a fine not more than $5,000, or an amount equal to twice the amount of gain from the commission of the crime up to a maximum of $20,000, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the court affidavit, police officers responded to a call in the village of Pago Pago, where officers made contact with the victim and the reporting party, who provided details regarding the incident.

The statements obtained at the scene revealed that the incident stemmed from an agreement made on February 14, 2026, when the defendant, Justin GAGO, requested to borrow a JBL PartyBox 110 speaker from the victim.

The victim stated that the defendant assured him that the speaker would only be used for one night and would be returned the following day. However, weeks passed and the speaker was not returned. The victim reported that he made multiple attempts to follow up with the defendant regarding the return of the item. Each time, the defendant allegedly reassured him that the speaker would be returned at a later time, causing the victim to believe that the item remained in the defendant’s possession.

The reporting party, who is the grandmother of both individuals, informed officers that this was not an isolated incident. According to her statement, the defendant has previously borrowed items from the household and failed to return them in a timely manner, raising concerns about a repeated pattern of behavior.

Police were further informed that all parties involved reside together in the same home in Pago Pago. The victim and the defendant are half-brothers living under the supervision of their grandmother, who ultimately contacted authorities after efforts to resolve the matter within the family proved unsuccessful.

As part of the preliminary investigation, officers documented the complaint and photographed the speaker box provided by the victim. This was done to accurately confirm the make and model of the missing property, identified as a JBL PartyBox 110 speaker.

At approximately 9:30 a.m, the defendant was located and transported to the FPS for further investigation. He was Mirandized and later acknowledged and waived his rights, agreeing to provide a statement to police.

According to the defendant’s verbal and written statement, he admitted to borrowing the speaker from his half-brother. However, he further admitted that instead of returning the item as promised, he sold the speaker to another individual for $120. The defendant stated that he needed money at the time and made the decision to sell the speaker without informing the victim or seeking permission.

The victim and the reporting party both stated they were unaware that the speaker had been sold. They explained that the defendant had continued to assure them that the item would be returned, which delayed their decision to involve law enforcement.

Officers counseled the defendant regarding the seriousness of the situation and advised him to attempt to locate the individual to whom the speaker was sold in order to recover the property. He was instructed to make a good faith effort to return the speaker to its rightful owner.

FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION

On March 5, 2026, officers conducted a follow-up investigation by contacting the victim and the reporting party. According to their statements, the defendant had not returned the speaker, nor had he made any known effort to recover it.

Both individuals were again asked if they wished to pursue charges against the defendant, and they confirmed that they wanted the matter to proceed, citing frustration over the continued lack of resolution and the loss of valuable personal property.

PROPERTY DETAILS

The missing item was identified as a JBL PartyBox 110 speaker, reportedly purchased from CG Electronics. The estimated value of the speaker is $449. The significant difference between the original purchase price and the amount for which the speaker was sold was also noted during the investigation.

Police officials emphasized that cases involving the unauthorized sale of borrowed property may result in criminal charges, particularly when the owner did not give consent for the item to be sold.

The case remains under active investigation, and further action will be taken as warranted.

The defendant is identified as a 20-year-old U.S National.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on March 6, 2026.

[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. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court.]