Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man with two outstanding bench warrants including a large number of traffic fines was arrested last month on allegations of unlawful drug possession, intent to distribute, and DUI.

When questioned by investigators, the defendant, Onosa’i Filipo said that drugs found inside his vehicle belonged to him, and he bought them from Le Filifili so that he could sell it to make money for him and his family.

Filipo, 33, who has an active arrest warrant from a burglary case two years ago, made his initial appearance in court two weeks ago.

The government has filed two separate cases against Filipo.

In the first case, Filipo is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine; one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; both felonies; along with driving under the influence of alcohol, a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

In the second case, Filipo is charged with one count of 2nd degree burglary; and two counts of stealing, all class C felonies, punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years, a $5,000 fine or pursuant to A.S.C.A 46.2101, a fine equal to twice the amount of gain from the commission of the crime, up to a maximum of $20,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Bail is set at $15,000. If he posts bond, Filipo is subject to the usual restrictions.

During the initial appearance, Filipo waived his right to a preliminary examination and his case was bound over to High Court. He appeared last week for arraignment where he entered a not guilty plea to the charges.

Pretrial conference is June 17th, 2020.

THE CASE

On Apr. 26th, police stopped a red truck in Fagaalu for speeding and a false plates. Asked for a driver’s license or any photo ID, the driver, Filipo told police he had forgotten his wallet at home where he had his driver’s license and other photo IDs. Information received by police revealed that the vehicle was registered to Onosa’i Filipo, the defendant in this matter. Filipo was riding in his vehicle with his girlfriend when police pulled it over.

The vehicle was impounded and cops later found a clear glass pipe containing a usable amount of methamphetamine. In addition, two small baggies containing methamphetamine, along with several empty small ziplock baggies commonly used to package meth were also discovered on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Both Filipo and his girlfriend were transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for further investigation, and they were placed in different rooms for interview.

During her interview, Filipo’s girlfriend told police that Filipo picked her up from her house in Iliili for an evening ride, and they drove straight to Le Filifili to buy drugs. She told police that Filipo parked the vehicle and walked a few feet away to meet a man who handed him (Filipo) drugs. She said Filipo gave the man $200.

On their way back, Filipo told her that he wanted to be a successful businessman and that’s why he wanted to join the “Dirty Business” (referring to selling drugs) to earn more money for him and his family.

The girlfriend further stated to police that Filipo hid some drugs under the driver’s seat when police flagged down their vehicle during the traffic stop, while he threw another small baggie on the side of the road.

After interviewing the defendant’s girlfriend, two police officers, along with the defendant’s girlfriend went back to the vehicle parked outside of the TPS to search it. Under the driver’s seat, officers found one small baggie containing methamphetamine.

The search then moved to the area where the initial traffic stop took place. On the side of the road in front of an Asian store in Faga’alu, police found another small baggie containing methamphetamine.

The girlfriend stated that all drugs found in the vehicle belonged to Filipo. She was later released pending further investigation.

When confronted by police, Filipo immediately apologized for his actions and admitted that everything found inside his vehicle belongs to him. When asked about his girlfriend’s statement regarding drugs he bought from a man at Le Filifili prior to the traffic stop, Filipo told investigators that his girlfriend had nothing to do with all the drugs found inside his vehicle.

He said that he wanted to become a successful person in life and that’s why he decided to get more money for him and his family by selling illegal drugs.

THE BURGLARY CASE

Filipo’s name came up in the police system with an outstanding arrest warrant for a burglary case two years ago, where he allegedly broke into a home in Leone on July 12, 2018 and stole some belongings.

When asked about the old case, Filipo told police that he was standing outside of the house as a lookout person while his friend went inside the house.

The government claims that on July 13, 2018, a woman reported to police that her house was burglarized by unknown individuals. According to the victim’s statement to police, she was at her grandmother’s house with her three young children on the night of July 12th because their power was off.

The next morning, she returned to her house and noticed that the back door was damaged with some clothes lying on the ground. She went inside and realized that someone had been inside the house on the previous night.

Responding to a call, police officers noticed that the house’s back door was damaged, and were told that some belongings were stolen including clothes, shoes and an electric saw.

A man who is on probation for stealing told police that his friend Filipo and another man were the ones who broke into the family’s house. The witness told police that it was Filipo who damaged the door to gain entry inside the house while the other man was standing outside as a lookout man.

The witness further told police he knew about this incident because two days after the burglary, Filipo gave him a pair Nike shorts and a pair of shoes.