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Man accused of giving marijuana to juveniles to sell opts for jury trial

American Samoa High Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The man who is accused of giving juveniles marijuana to sell for him has asked the Court to set his case for jury trial. The trial is now set for 2023.

Tali Malo appeared in court last week for his pretrial conference. When Malo’s case was called, his attorney informed the court that they had received all the discovery from the government along with an offer for a plea agreement, however, after speaking with his client regarding the facts of the case, his client has maintained his not guilty plea.

“For these reasons, we’re asked the court to set this case for a jury trial,” defense attorney told the court.

Malo is still in custody awaiting his jury trial next year unable to post a surety bond of $10,000.

BACKGROUND

Two juveniles caught smoking marijuana at the back of a store led to the arrest of Malo after juveniles told investigators he gave them marijuana to sell. The juveniles were caught by a store employee and the owner of the store reported the matter.

He’s being charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, to wit; marijuana with the intent to distribute, a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than ten years, or a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $20,000, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to one year, and a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

When questioned by detectives of the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit, one of the juveniles told police that the marijuana they were smoking came from a guy called “King”.

King was later identified as Tali Malo, who is the defendant in this matter. One of the juveniles further told police that Malo gives him free marijuana in exchange for selling his marijuana for $5 a joint. He also told police that he also sells marijuana joints from another man by the name of “Deuce”.

When questioned by investigators, Tali allegedly admitted that he gave marijuana joints to the two juveniles to sell.