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Man arrested admits to string of robberies in Leone area — including copper wire

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man accused of burglarizing a home twice and allegedly stealing several items including cash was arrested by police this week.

Jason Faafetai Uili, also known as “Tai” made his initial appearance in District Court this week.

Uili is charged with 3 counts of stealing; 3 counts of 2nd degree burglary; and one count of resisting arrest, all class C felonies, punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years, a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

Judge Elvis P. Patea set bail at $30,000.

If he posts bond, the court ordered the defendant to not set foot in the building where the alleged incident took place, nor try to have any direct of indirect contact with the victim or witnesses in this case.

Preliminary examination is set for tomorrow, Mar. 6th at 10:30a.m.

THE AFFIDAVIT

The case came to light when a woman contacted the Tafuna Police Station reporting that a person by the name of Jason Faafetai Uili, the defendant in this matter allegedly entered their home unlawfully and stole her wallet containing valuable items and $28 in cash.

Investigators responded to the call and the woman told investigators that the perpetrator is her husband’s nephew. The woman further told investigators that both she and her husband saw Uili inside their home on the night of Feb. 10, 2020.

According to the woman’s statement, on the night of Feb.10, she saw someone at her cabinet right in front where she slept. She asked,”Who is that?” and also recognized it was the defendant, pulling out her black wallet from inside her purse that was in the cabinet.

Knowing it was the defendant, she then called out to him saying, “Tai, Tai,” but the suspect ignored her and continued to run away with the wallet in his possession. The woman then called out to her husband and they both chased after the suspect from their bedroom to the living room. But the chase was unsuccessful as her husband has a heart problem.

In an interview with the woman’s husband, the man echoed his wife’s explanation and confirmed to investigators that the person he chased with his wife was Uili, the defendant in this matter.

During a routine patrol on Feb. 14 around 3:37p.m in Faleniu, patrolling police officers spotted a motorcyclist driving without a helmet traveling east of Faleniu operating a moped, which they tried to stop.

However, the driver immediately made a U-turn and increased the speed of his moped fleeing from officers.

The driver fled to a side road in the Faleniu village area, and managed to cut through a trail, south of Faleniu near the Tuiaana Family land and made his way into the Ottoville area.

In pursuit, police officers managed to get another Police Unit to take cover in the Ottoville area near the Fatuoaiga Catholic Church, while another Police Unit blocked the defendant from going further, continuing towards the church.

According to the government’s case, the defendant’s moped allegedly side-swiped DPS-13 causing damage to the front left fender. Two police officers then approached the defendant in an effort to arrest him, however, the defendant was uncooperative. One officer pinned the defendant to the rock wall using the police unit door while the defendant continued to resist by pushing the door away.

At the same time, the defendant attempted to run away from officers while officers continued to make the arrest. Officers were able to complete the arrest and the defendant was transported to the Tafuna Substation for questioning.

The investigation identified the defendant as Uli, and also that he was a person of interest in a string of burglaries in the Leone area.

When asked by investigators, the defendant admitted that on the night of Feb. 10, he broke into his aunt and uncle’s home in Leone. He said he went through the window to gain entrance.

The defendant stated that he had an accomplice, who stood outside to provide security while he (defendant) entered the house. The defendant confirmed that he stole his aunt’s purse, and when his aunt woke up and spotted him, he ran out the front door.

The defendant further stated to investigators that the next day, he and his two friends including his accomplice, went shopping using his aunts credit card and spent over $500 on items from various retail stores. The credit card was eventually declined so they stopped using it.

The defendant also told investigators that he broke into the same home twice. The first incident happened in late January 2020 at night and he stole jewelry.

The defendant stated the jewelry consisted of a fake necklace and two gold rings. He sold the items to a couple for $100 in cash.

The defendant further admitted that during the same time period, late January of 2020, he and his accomplice stole copper from St. Theresa’s, a private school in Leone.

The defendant stated that he dropped off his partner, went back to his house to wait for his partner to be finished cutting the copper wire. The defendant stated that after a while, his partner called to pick him up.

On the same day, the defendant, his accomplice and another person sold the copper to a Chinese individual for $40.

The investigation revealed that the copper wire taken was about 47 feet long.

Investigators also spoke to a representative from the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) regarding the copper, and stated the copper wire costs $3 per foot.

The total value of the copper wire taken from St. Theresa School was $141.