Semi Sago convicted of possession of meth and intent to distribute

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The jury trial of Semi Sago at the High Court ended on April 11, 2024 with his conviction for two counts of intent to distribute methamphetamine and for possession of methamphetamine.

After two hours of deliberation, the jury returned with a unanimous verdict of guilty against defendant Semi Sago, ending a four day trial that began on April 8, 2024.

The evidence presented at trial showed that in the early morning hours of September 27, 2022, the Vice and Narcotics Special Unit served a search warrant for illegal drugs and firearms at the defendant's residence in Aua.

Officers found the defendant sleeping in his bedroom. When he was awakened, he reached for an object near the window and for the safety of the officers, Semi Sago was handcuffed and detained.

A certified K-9 Officer and his K-9 dog searched the defendant's bedroom and found a "place of interest" in the bedroom.

A table was searched by the K-9 Officer who found a box that contained $860 cash and 7 cutup straws filled with a crystalline substance.

Other items found in the bedroom included a glass pipe, small plastic bags and notebooks.

The Vice and Narcotics Special Unit was assisted by detectives from the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Department of Public Safety.

A field test was made of the crystalline substances found during the search, and all tested positive for methamphetamine.

A forensic chemist from the DEA lab that conducted a chemical analysis of the cut up straws of crystalline substances seized in the drug search, travelled to American Samoa to testify at trial.

After the jury verdict was announced, Semi Sago was immediately remanded to the custody of the High Court Marshal to be transferred to the Tafuna Correctional Facility.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Roy J.D. Hall, Jr.

The defendant's sentencing will be set by the court after a pre-sentence report is prepared.

American Samoa, like many other communities in the United States and Pacific Islands, are experiencing the same problem of methamphetamine or ‘aisa’ being sold and distributed to adults and young people.

The maximum penalty for each of the two counts in which Semi Sago was convicted is twenty years in prison and a twenty thousand dollars fine.

(Source: Attorney General’s Office)