Former TMO cashiers who stole over $70K from the company plead guilty

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The two former Tautua Mo Oe (TMO) Inc. cashiers arrested for stealing over $70,000 from the company have entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Both Malia One and Inosiaolouaiga Pauga, who have been in custody since their arrest last year, unable to post bond, appeared before Associate Justice Fiti A. Sunia yesterday morning for a Change of Plea hearing.

Bond for One is $40,000 while Pauga’s bond is set at $35,000

Prosecuting the case is Assistant Attorney General Doug Lowe, while Assistant Public Defender Rob McNeill is representing both defendants.

One and Pauga are each charged with one count of stealing and one count of embezzlement, both class C felonies, punishable by up to 7 years in jail and 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.

But under a plea agreement with the government, accepted by the court, One and Mauga both pled guilty to the amended count of conspiracy to commit stealing, a class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years in jail and 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.

Both women admit that between Jan. 01 and Sept. 30, 2018, they engaged in a scheme to steal money from TMO.

The two were employed by TMO last year, and they admit to providing fake invoices  to get cash for their own personal use.

One told the court that as a result of her actions, she was able to steal $37,431.77 from her former employer, while Pauga admits that she stole $33,381.35

According to terms of the plea agreement, TMO's auditor and accounting representative conducted an audit and her findings revealed several irregular amounts that were not consistent with the transactions made.

The audit report revealed that One and Pauga stole money from the cash register in small amounts, and this continued until they accumulated several thousand dollars.

The report disclosed that One took over $36K from TMO's wholesale department within a 9-month period.

There is a key on the cash machine labeled  “RC”. According to the auditor’s report to police, One pressed that key and then would claim it was a wrong sale. One would allegedly keep the money she claimed was from a wrong sale instead of adding the sale to the daily cash log. The following is a breakdown of the missing money:

January - $1,120.14; February - $2,069.03; March- $2,282.67; April - $5,389.18; May - $8,278.03; June - $5,559.86; July - $5,836.00; August - $3,448.00; September - $3,448.86.

Altogether, according to the government, One stole $37,431.77 from her former employer.

The auditor’s report revealed that co-defendant Pauga’s daily sales report and dates on the invoice number receipts did not match up with the daily logs.

Pauga pocketed cash payments made by customers. To conceal her embezzlement, she used previous invoice number receipts to deceive her employer.

The government alleges that Pauga stole $33,831.39 from TMO Inc:

February - $3,917.97; March - $1,426.82; April - $3,735.34; May - $7,932.79; June - $6,683.97; July - $4,673.29; August - $2,320.75; September - $3,140.42.

As part of the plea agreement, the government recommends probation and as a condition, both defendants shall pay restitution of $37,431.77 for One; and $33,381.39 for Pauga.

Both women will be sentenced Aug. 22nd.