Man caught up in Tafuna drug bust last year takes a plea agreement

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The second of the four defendants arrested after police executed two search warrants in February of last year at two homes in Tafuna and Vaitogi has entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Jack Alesana, who has been in custody since his arrest, unable to post a $15,000 cash bond, appeared in Court last week for a Change of Plea hearing.

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

However, in a plea agreement with the government, Alesana pled guilty to the amended charge of unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Alesana admits that on Feb. 13, 2020 he had on him two glass pipes containing methamphetamine.

According to terms of the plea agreement, cops executed a search warrant on a red pickup that was parked in front of a Tafuna store last February. Alesana and another male individual were inside the vehicle when police approached them.

During a body search, officers discovered two glass pipes containing meth in Alesana’s front left pocket. When asked about the glass pipes, Alesana said he got it from a friend, who lived in Iliili.