Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 12, 2026, a suspect appeared in the District Court to answer charges stemming from allegations of bigamy and making false affidavits.

The case arose from an investigation initiated by local authorities following a complaint referred by the Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) of American Samoa, after discrepancies were discovered in official marriage records connected to the defendant.

The defendant, Joe Senio, was later charged with:

Count 1: Bigamy, a class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2 & 3: Making False Affidavit, a class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment o f not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

There was no bail indicated.

According to the court affidavit, the matter was assigned under the American Samoa Department of Homeland Security (ASDHS) prompting a formal inquiry into the defendant’s marital history and the legal documents he submitted. Investigators conducted interviews, reviewed sworn statements, and examined official records maintained by OVS to determine whether criminal violations had occurred.

As outlined in the affidavit supporting the criminal complaint, investigators interviewed the defendant on January 7, 2026, at the OTICIDE office located within the ASDHS compound. Prior to questioning, the defendant was advised of his constitutional rights, including his right to remain silent and his right to terminate the interview at any time. The defendant acknowledged understanding these rights and voluntarily agreed to provide a statement.

During the interview, the defendant admitted that he entered into a lawful marriage in May 2022. Despite this acknowledgment, the investigation revealed that on December 3, 2025, the defendant completed and executed an affidavit for a marriage license in which he declared that he had “never been married.” Authorities allege that this statement was knowingly false, as the defendant was still legally married at the time he made the declaration.

Further evidence showed that the defendant also completed an application for a marriage license on the same date, again indicating that his marital status was “single.”

Investigators allege that this misrepresentation was deliberate and intended to facilitate the issuance of a second marriage license under false pretenses.

Court documents further indicate that on December 10, 2025, the defendant participated in a marriage ceremony with another individual at the High Court of American Samoa. Authorities allege that this second marriage was entered into without the defendant first obtaining a legal divorce or annulment from his existing marriage, thereby constituting the offense of bigamy under local law.

As part of the investigation, authorities also reviewed a detailed statement obtained from the complainant during an earlier interview conducted at the ASDHS office.

According to the affidavit, the complainant confirmed that she legally married the defendant in May 2022 and remained married to him at all relevant times. She further stated that she became aware of the defendant’s second marriage on or about December 10, 2025.

The complainant subsequently filed a formal complaint with authorities, alleging that the defendant knowingly entered into another marriage while still legally bound in the first. She expressed concern over the deception involved and the legal consequences arising from the defendant’s actions.

Investigators conducted an extensive review of records maintained by OVS to corroborate the statements obtained during interviews. These records included the application for marriage license, affidavit, and certificate of marriage associated with the defendant’s 2022 marriage.

Additionally, investigators examined documentation related to the second marriage, including the application for marriage license dated December 3, 2025, the affidavit submitted by the defendant, the issued marriage license, and the certificate of marriage dated December 10, 2025.

The affidavit also stated that the review of these records confirmed that no legal dissolution of the defendant’s first marriage had occurred prior to the second marriage ceremony. The documents further demonstrated that the defendant provided false information under oath in official affidavits, which were used to obtain the second marriage license.

Based on the seriousness of the allegations, the matter has been referred for prosecution, and the defendant remains subject to further court proceedings as the case continues through the judicial system.

The defendant is identified as a 28-year-old U.S National.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on March 12, 2026.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court.]