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Man swept up in drug bust enters into plea agreement

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who was arrested after armed detectives of the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at his Fagaima home last October has entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Alatise Foma’i, who is out on a $3,000 cash bond, appeared in High Court this week for a Change of Plea hearing. He was represented by Assistant Public Defender Rob McNeill, while prosecuting was Assistant Attorney General Laura Garvey.

Foma’i, 45, was originally charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a felony punishable by 5-10 years in jail, and a fine of $5,000-$20,000 or both.

But under a plea agreement with the government, Foma’i pled guilty to an amended count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Foma’i admits that on Oct. 21, 2018 he had in his possession, two small baggies containing meth.

According to the government, on Oct. 21st, several police officers executed a search warrant at the defendant’s Fagaima home where paraphernalia was found inside his bedroom.

It was a body search that netted two small baggies containing a crystalline substance, which, according to Foma’i, were bought from a man for $50 a piece.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 27th.