Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Barry Lemisio made his initial appearance in Court last month after he was caught with meth while on probation for the same offense.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, a felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or both.

Bail is set at $5,000.

THE CASE

On Mar. 30, 2022 at about 5:30p.m, Vice and Narcotics (VNU) were informed of a traffic stop by the TPS Patrol Officers where they later discovered live ammunition and a glass pipe, containing a white crystalline substance.

According to the officers who initiated the traffic stop, they stopped a white pickup truck that was in front of their unit with expired tags. They then ran the plate with the OMV system and confirmed they were expired.

The vehicle was stopped near a store across from the Vaitogi intersection and the driver of the vehicle, who was later identified as Barry Lemisio, was approached.

During the traffic stop, officers discovered that that Lemisio did not possess a driver’s license or any form of identification. The driver was then apprehended and his vehicle impounded for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the TPS, an inventory of the vehicle was conducted by officers in the presence of the driver. Inside the vehicle’s armrest compartment, officers discovered a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance.

When asked about the items found inside his vehicle, Lemisio informed officers that he just recently got the car. He also stated that items found belonged to his friend who he just dropped off in Faleniu prior to being pulled over by police.

Lemisio was Mirandized and he refused to make a statement.