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Man who was part of a gang of 3 burglarizing a Tafuna store, finally arrested

American Samoa District Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man wanted in the case where 3 males burglarized a store in the Tafuna area was arrested last month pursuant to an arrest warrant from the court. His arrest took place during a traffic stop after cops discovered drugs.

Ualesi Faasavala made his initial appearance in District Court last month.

The government filed two separate criminal cases against Faasavala.

In the first case, Faasavala is charged with one count of 1st degree burglary and one count of stealing, both class C felonies, punishable by imprisonment of up to 7 years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

In the second case, Faasavala is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth), a felony punishable by imprisonment of 5-10 years, a fine of $5,000- $20,000 or both.

THE BURGLARY CASE

On July 21st 2021, several police officers responded to a call from a couple in the Tafuna area regarding their store being burglarized by unknown people. Officers arrived at the scene and during the course of the investigation, it was revealed that three men were involved in the alleged burglary.

Two days after the burglary, police received their first lead in the case from a 21-year-old female who knew one of the suspects. Officer interviewed the witness and on the same date, the first suspect was arrested — Chris Finauga — one of the three co-defendants in this matter.

On the following date, July 24, the second suspect was arrested from his home. He was Olataga Natu, also a co-defendant in this matter.

It was Natu who revealed to investigators the whole plan behind the burglary and stated that the third suspect, Ualesi Faasavala was the master-mind.

Police tried to locate Faasavala at his place of residence at the time, but he was nowhere to be found.

Natu told investigators that it was Faasavala’s plan to burglarize the store because the man who owns the store owes him money for a vehicle he fixed for him, but the store owner never paid him. Faasavala told Natu that the storeowner owed him $600 for fixing his vehicle.

According to Natu, it was Faasavala who broke into the store late at night through the side window and stole several electronics items from the small office inside the store while he (Natu) and Chris were standing outside as lookouts.

Natu and Finauga are both 19 years old while Faasavala is 35.

Natu and Finauga are charged with 1st degree burglary and stealing and their cases are pending in High Court where their bail is set at $15,000.

THE DRUG CASE

On Jan. 12, 2022, two officers conducted speeding enforcement in the area across from the ASCC campus. At about 10a.m., they stopped a speeding vehicle that was heading west. Two males were inside. The driver identified himself to police as Ualesi Faasavala, who did not have a valid driver’s license or any other form of identification on him. It was later confirmed that his license had expired Aug. 27, 2019.

Faasavala was then told that his vehicle would be impounded at the Tafuna Police Substation and he would be taken in for further questioning.

As officers were trying to place Faasavala inside one of the police units, one of the officers observed the passenger, who was sitting in the passenger’s seat, trying to reach inside his pocket. The male passenger seemed nervous and told the officer he wanted to go home.

Before heading to the police station, Faasavala handed a black pouch to one of the officers, to give to his passenger (who identified himself to police as Tusi Filipo). When the black pouch was being handed over to Filipo, he was asked Filipo if the black pouch belonged to him, to which Filipo shook his head and said no, it belonged to Faasavala.

Again, Filipo told one of the officers that he wanted to go home because he doesn’t want to be involved in the situation. He said he doesn’t do drugs and he’s not the type of person who hangs out with a drug dealer.

Filipo was then asked to exit the vehicle and he complied. When asked about his statement that he doesn’t want to get involved in the situation, Filipo whispered to the officer that he believes the black pouch Faasavala claimed belongs to him (Filipo) contains drugs — but the black pouch belongs to Faasavala.

Filipo was then placed in the police unit and the cop held on to the black pouch until they arrived at TPS. Once there, the cop returned the black pouch to Faasavala who still claimed that it belonged to Filipo, and cops must hand it over  to Filipo. That’s when a senior officer asked him if they could search the black pouch for any form of identification. Faasavala said okay.

The search netted 5 small stamp-sized baggies containing a white crystalline substance that tested positive for meth. Officers also discovered 4 hand rolled cigarettes contained green leaf substance that tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active compound in marijuana.

When questioned by police, Filipo said he has known Faasavala for two months and they met through his older brother, who is a mechanic. According to Filipo, Faasavala himself is also a mechanic and he (Faasavala) used to hang around with his older brother on weekends.

He said Faasavala would ask him for help with yard work and on that day, picked him up to help move a pick-up truck from Leone to his (Faasavala) mechanic shop in the Tafuna area.

According to Filipo, Faasavala had the black pouch in his car when he picked him up; and after fixing another vehicle in Faleniu, Faasavala told him that they needed to pick up his tool box from a friend in Nu’uuli. Filipo agreed, and when they were stopped by police, he saw Faasavala stuff the black pouch under his seat and was surprised when the police officer walked up to him saying Faasavala said the black pouch was his.

Filipo also told police that Faasavala was selling drugs from his mechanic shop in the Tafuna area. He said after Faasavala picked him up, Faasavala informed him that he just got his supply from “STUKIE”. When he asked Faasavala to what supply he was referring, Faasavala said, “ice and weed”.

One of the cops who escorted Faasavala to the TPS told the lead investigator that during the ride, Faasavala behaved strangely. He looked nervous and wouldn’t stop moving and kicking his feet. En route to the police station, Faasavala grabbed the ashtray and spilled its contents on the floor. One officer immediately pulled the ashtray away from him and asked what he was doing. Faasavala did not respond.

When further questioned by investigators, Faasavala continued to say that the black pouch belonged to Filipo.

Faasavala’s vehicle was searched in his presence. Police found a pipe containing a white crystalline substance on the floor of the passenger side. There was also a green leafy substance scattered all over the sides of the rug on the passenger side. Two closed off straws were also discovered underneath a soda can in the passenger’s side cup holder.

During a body search of Faasavala, cops discovered a small stamp-sized baggie inside his pocket that contained white crystalline substance, which later tested positive with meth.

When questioned by investigators, Faasavala said that drugs found inside the black pouch and vehicle did not belong to him but to his uncle who owns the truck he borrowed to do his work for his mechanic shop. He said that the baggie containing meth found inside his pocket also does not belong to him. He found it inside the truck and he put it in his pocket.