Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Attorney General’s office has initiated legal proceedings against a couple, Lote Siua Jr. and his wife, Melanie Fuimaono, facing serious charges of theft and various deceptive business practices. 

The couple has been accused of engaging in bait advertising, deceptive trade practices, and embezzlement. This legal action follows an extensive investigation by the Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Bureau, prompted by numerous consumer complaints about the couple’s auto sales and repair business.

Lote Siua Jr. faces 17 charges, including six counts of stealing; three counts each of bait advertising and deceptive business practices; three counts of passing bad checks; and two counts of embezzlement. His wife, Melanie Fuimaono, faces five charges, including two counts of stealing and one count each of bait advertising, deceptive business practices, and embezzlement.

According to court filings, Siua and Fuimaono operate several businesses under different names, including LSJR Tire Repair and Auto Detailing, Lote's Services, and Lote and Mel's Autoshop and Car Wash, all situated in Tafuna near the intersection leading to Fagaima. They allegedly offered vehicle sales, repairs, and related services, using various business identities throughout their operations.

The formal charges against the couple stem from multiple consumer complaints alleging they accepted significant sums of money for vehicles that were never delivered to customers. The complaints also describe instances in which the couple retained vehicles brought to them for repair, failed to return them as promised, and made false statements about repairs they never performed.

Specific allegations listed in the court documents include five notable cases of consumer fraud:

In one case, a couple paid Lote Siua Jr. $25,000 in 2023 for a Toyota truck he was supposed to sell them. Initially, the couple made a $5,000 down payment; however, after several delays, Siua proposed that they buy a Chevrolet Silverado instead. He claimed that the Chevrolet only needed a specialized key component that had to be imported from off-island. The couple subsequently made four additional payments of $5,000 each, bringing their total payment to $25,000. Allegedly, Siua and Fuimaono failed to deliver the Chevrolet and did not return the $25,000. Instead of a refund, the couple received temporary vehicles, including a Nissan truck that was later found to belong to Tuanaitau Rentals and had been reported missing.

In a second instance, a woman reported paying the couple $9,800 in April 2024 for a 2017 Hyundai Tucson they had advertised for sale. However, after the initial agreement, Siua switched the vehicle to a 2012 Nissan Titan, claiming it needed a minor bumper repair and would be available by April 12, 2024. When the Titan was not delivered on time, Siua claimed that additional repairs or parts were required. A month later, he transferred the Titan's title to the buyer to satisfy loan requirements while still retaining possession of the vehicle. When the buyer requested a refund, Siua issued a $9,800 check, which was later returned for insufficient funds. The woman reported the incident to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), which recovered the Nissan Titan on September 3, 2024. Regrettably, after taking possession, the vehicle broke down and is believed to have been in and out of several auto repair shops since.

In another reported case, a consumer brought his 2015 Dodge Durango to Siua’s auto shop in late 2023 for transmission repairs. During the repair process, Siua expressed interest in purchasing the Durango but could not meet the $15,000 asking price. They agreed that no payment would be required for the repairs, but if Siua eventually bought the vehicle, the repair costs would be deducted from the final sale price. By October 2024, the customer discovered the Durango was no longer at Siua's auto shop; instead, a different family was driving it. When the customer confronted Siua, he claimed that a friend was merely test-driving the vehicle. A few days later, the customer reported the situation to the DPS, who discovered that the family had purchased the Durango from Siua. Siua alleged that he had not returned the vehicle to its original owner because the owner owed him money for repairs made on rental vehicles.

Furthermore, court documents noted that in another case involved a couple in September 2024 who were approached by Siua, who was interested in buying their 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser. They agreed on a sale price of $10,000 and handed the vehicle over to Siua. He provided them with a check for the full amount. However, when the couple tried to deposit the check at TBAS, it was returned for insufficient funds. After several unsuccessful attempts to collect payment from Siua at his auto shop, the couple sought assistance from the DPS, which led police to seize the FJ Cruiser and return it to its rightful owners.

These detailed accounts of alleged fraud illustrate the serious accusations against Lote Siua Jr. and Melanie Fuimaono. The Attorney General’s office filed the charges, highlighting a pattern of dishonest practices in their business operations that has prompted significant legal scrutiny and consumer outrage.