Watch out for those alleged used car dealers — you may get taken for a ride

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A mechanic accused of selling two vehicles that did not belong to him to two different buyers is now in custody in after being arrested by police last week.

The two vehicles involved in this matter belong to Asian men, who took their vehicles to the defendant for repairs.

Keiti Lisala made his initial appearance in District Court this week where the government has filed two separate criminal cases against him.

In the first case, Lisala is charged with one count of embezzlement and one count of stealing, both class C felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 7 years, a $5,000 fine or, pursuant to A.S.C.A 46.2101, a fine equal to twice the amount of gain from the commission of said crime, up to a maximum of $20,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Bail is set at $15,000 for this case.

In the second case, Lisala is also charged with one count of embezzlement and one count of stealing, both class C felonies.

Bail is set at $15,000 for this matter.

THE FIRST CASE

On Feb. 16, 2022, a woman walked into the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to file a complaint against Keiti Lisala, the defendant in this matter, after he allegedly deceived them with the vehicle (2015 Nissan Rogue license plate #539D) he sold to them for $10,000, although he didn’t own it nor is the vehicle registered under his name.

Investigators met with the woman where she briefly explained to investigators about the matter.

According to the complaint, on Dec. 31, 2021, she went to Lisala’s home in Ottovville to purchase a vehicle Lisala claimed he owned. After she spoke with Lisala he agreed to sell her the vehicle for the full payment of $10,000 and she gave him $3,000 for the first payment.

After handing over the cash to Lisala, the defendant told the her that he doesn’t have the car’s registration on him but wouldl provide it to her later.

Four days later on Jan. 3, 2022, the woman gave the defendant another payment of $3,000 and agreed to give the last payment of $4,000 when Lisala is able to provide her with the car’s registration.

More than a month passed and on Feb. 16, 2022, the woman went back to Lisala’s home in Ottovillie to follow up on the vehicle and she met by an Asian man who claimed that he is the true owner of the car.

The Asian man told the woman that he gave Lisala his vehicle to repair the damages and ever since then he’s been following up with Lisala but he would tell him that it’s almost finished. After discovering the true owner of the vehicle, the woman went straight to the TPS to file a complaint against Lisala.

Investigators also interviewed the woman’s daughter regarding the matter.

The daughter told investigators that she was the one who went with her mother during their agreement with Lisala, which was done at Lisala’s residence in Ottoville.

She confirmed her mother’s statement and told investigators that on Dec. 31, 2021, Lisala contacted her mother that there’s vehicle that he is willing to sell to them which was a Nissan Titan pickup and he would pick them up to test drive the vehicle.

The daughter said that Lisala picked them up and on their way to where the vehicle was parked, Lisala explained to her mother that the Nissan pickup was not longer up for sale, but it would exchange it with a 2015 Nissan Rogue (license plate #539D). Her mother then agreed to buy that vehicle and would make a down payment.

On that same day, the daughter explained that her mother then agreed to gave Lisala the first payment of $3,000 and Lisala agreed to sell them the vehicle and they set up another date for the second payment.

The second payment of $3,000 was handed over to Lisala on Jan. 3, 2022 but there were no receipts issued for their payments. However, Lisala told them to leave an email and he would send a receipt for the payments that had been made. The  daughter gave Lisala her email address however he did not reply back.

It was on Feb. 16 when the woman and her daughter went to follow up with the papers on the vehicle where they met up with an Asian man who told them that he’s the owner of the vehicle. The Asian man also showed the woman and her daughter papers and receipts.

Two week ago on Mar. 3, 2022, Lisala walked into the TPS where he was Mirandized and he waived his rights and agreed to make a statement about what happened.

During the interview, Lisala allegedly admitted selling the vehicle and also admitting everything that was said about him was true.

Police released Lisala later on his own recognizance and he left on his own free will.

THE SECOND CASE

On Feb. 28, 2022, another woman contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) in need of police assistance regarding a vehicle that she bought from a man named Keiti Lisala, stating that Lisala called her and told her that he was going to come take back the vehicle that she bought.

Investigators ran a search on the license plate #277H and the vehicle registration shows that the vehicle was owned by an Asian man.

Investigators contacted the owner of the vehicle asking him to come in to make a statement regarding the vehicle and the vehicle owner agreed.

According to the owner of the vehicle, he told investigators that Lisala rented his red 2021 Ford F-150 vehicle license plate #277H form him on Feb. 10, 2022. The payment for renting the car was past due and he was behind by $4,000. Lisala didn’t return the vehicle he rented and the owner was still waiting on Lisala to return his vehicle.

The owner of the vehicle further stated that he’s been trying to contact Lisala about the vehicle but Lisala wouldn’t return nor answer any of his phone calls. The owner also stated that sometimes when Lisala answered the phone, he (Lisala) would tell him that he was going to pay him back when he’s not busy.

On Mar. 2, 2022, the woman walked into the TPS and met up with investigators and stated that she asked Lisala if she could buy buy a car from him. Lisala gave her and her husband a red F-150 vehicle, license plate #277H, and told her to test drive the vehicle to see if she wanted to buy it.

The complaint went and test drove the vehicle and the vehicle was okay. She then told Lisala that she wanted the vehicle. Lisala then gave her the price of $12,000.  The complaint also told investigators that Lisala never told her that the vehicle was a rental.

The woman made four payments to Lisala to pay the $12,000 for the vehicle. The complaint paid the full amount of $12,000 in four payments and got the vehicle from Lisala.

On Mar. 3, 2022, investigators contacted Lisala asking him to come into the TPS to talk about a case he is involved in. Lisala agreed and went to the TPS for an interview with investigators.

Lisala was Mirandized where he waived his rights and agreed to make a statement about the matter.

According to Lisala, he rented a vehicle, license plate #277H from an Asian business man from February for 3 weeks. He didn’t turn in the vehicle that he rented on the due date, but he notified the Asian businessman that one of his clients was using the car for now and he would pay the rental payments and return the car back.

Lisala also stated to investigators the he didn’t sell the car to the complaint and her husband. He only gave the car for them to use for now while he looks for a good steady car for them. Lisala also stated that he already made an agreement with the woman and her husband for them to use the car but not have it.

After he gave the car to the woman and her husband, the next day, she came at him and told him that she wants to buy the car. He was okay with it and told the her that needed to pay $12,000 to get the car. He told investigators that he doesn’t recall the dates and times that the woman made her payments.

He said he only remembers just the amount where the first payment was a cash payment of $5,000. The next payment of $5,000 was paid online, and the last payment of $2,000 was paid in cash.

After the interviewed, Lisala was released to go home.