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Man caught up during drug raid appears in court for probation violation

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The court last week granted a verbal motion by defense attorney Rob McNeill, on behalf of his client Willie Aulavemai, to continue the preliminary hearing on an Order to Show Cause (OSC) until his current case is resolved.

Aulavemai, a.k.a. “WILL”, appeared in court last week on the allegation that he violated conditions of his 2-year probation that was handed down in June 2017 when he was arrested and charged for his current case.

Aulavemai, who is still in custody unable to post a $50,000 cash bond, is set for a pretrial conference on Sept. 20th.

He is charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine; unlawful possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; unlawful possession of marijuana; and unlawful possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute - all felonies.

The charges stem from a raid last year by the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit on Aulavemai’s Malaeimi home where cops allegedly discovered drugs, drug paraphernalia, and cash.

According to the government, the new case against Aulavemai violated conditions of his 2-year probation.

BACKGROUND

On Aug. 21, 2015 about 20 cops raided Aulavemai’s home and as a result, Aulavemai was charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth — a felony — and three counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor.

Under a plea agreement with the government, one of the three misdemeanor charges was amended to illegal possession of firearm ammunition. Aulavemai pled guilty to the amended charge and the remaining charges were dismissed.

He was subsequently sentenced to one year in jail; however, execution of the sentence was suspended and he was placed on two-years probation under the condition that he serve 120 days in jail. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and remain law-abiding.

The 2015 search netted drug paraphernalia, two digital scales, cut up straws, empty stamp-sized baggies, scissors with burnt tips, and a glass pipe allegedly containing meth, which was found inside a pool stick case in Aulavemai’s bedroom. Police also found $5,184 cash in a safe inside the  living room.