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Tumuatasi Lefatia aka MAMA jury trial pushed back

Tumuatasi Lefatia, a.k.a MAMA
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The jury trial for Tumuatasi Lefatia, a.k.a MAMA, which was scheduled for Oct. 9, 2020 is now pushed back by the court to Apr. 5, 2021 due to restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lefatia, who is out on bond appeared before Acting Associate Justice Elvis P. Patea this week for a Status Hearing. She is represented by private attorney Marcell Talaimalo Uiagalelei, while prosecuting the case is Assistant Attorney General Kristie Soule.

Patea stated when Lefatia’s case was called that a jury trial is still on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that until he hears otherwise from the Chief Justice, there would be no jury trials as this point in time.

Lefatia was advised to comply with conditions of her release on bond while her trial is still pending.

BACKGROUND

Lefatia, the owner of the LE AUTE Sports Bar, is charged with 4 felony counts, including unlawful possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; unlawful possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; unlawful possession of a control substance, marijuana; and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, marijuana with the intent to distribute.

The charges against Lefatia stem from an incident when armed detectives from the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit, along with other police officers from various DPS divisions conducted a raid at the LE AUTE Sports Bar in September of 2018.

Illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia were allegedly discovered during the raid, however, police did not locate any weapons.