COURT REPORT: Meth at airport and warehouse burglary

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 47-year-old man accused of violating local drugs law when he brought a small quantity of methamphetamine inside his luggage as he entered American Samoa has admitted to his wrongdoing.

Francis Ilalio was initially charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a felony; and an attempt to import a controlled substance into the territory, a class A misdemeanor.

Under a plea agreement with the government this week, Ilalio pled guilty to the amended charge of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). The remaining charge was dismissed.

With his guilty plea, Ilalio admits that earlier last year in January, he had in his possession a glass pipe, containing a small quantity of methamphetamine inside his luggage when he arrived at the Pago Pago International Airport.

As part of the plea agreement, the government is asking the court to sentence Ilalio to 5 years probation, without any jail time at the TCF.

The court has accepted the defendant’s guilty plea, and sentencing is set for Apr. 26th, 2020.

BACKGROUND

Ilalio was arrested after a Customs agent at the airport during a routine search at the arrival terminal, found a glass pipe with methamphetamine inside Ilalio’s luggage.

On Feb. 11, 2019, Ilalio waived his right to a preliminary examination and his case was bound over to High Court. He appeared in court on Feb. 14 for arraignment. One of the conditions of his release, after posting a $2,500 cash bond, was that he remain drug and alcohol free.

On May 20, 2019 Ilalio appeared for his pretrial conference. Immediately afterwards, the defendant was ordered by the probation office to take a drug test. Ilalio allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine and he was immediately arrested and transported back to the TCF to await his initial appearance in High Court for a probation revocation hearing.

According to a report from the Probation Office, the defendant allegedly admitted that he smoked methamphetamine three days prior to the test.

Ilalio appeared in court last week for his preliminary examination on the allegation that he violated conditions of his release.

When his case was called, his defense attorney informed the court that the matter has been resolved between the defense and the government. He then asked the court to quash the Order to Show Cause (OSC) for his client in this matter. The defense attorney was told that the court would not quash the OSC unless the court grants a resolution from both parties.

Defense informed the court that they have reached an agreement with the government, and Ilalio is prepared to change his plea.

On Monday this week, Ilalio appeared in court and his guilty plea was accepted.

TAFEGA OLATAGA

A 31-year-old man who was accused of burglarizing a warehouse and a store in the Tafuna area and stole property, told the court that the allegations against him are true. Tafega Olataga appeared in court this week for a Change of Plea hearing.

He was originally charged with 1st degree burglary and stealing, both class C felonies, however under a plea agreement with the government, which was accepted by the High Court last week, Olataga pled guilty to the amended charged of 2nd degree burglary.

With his guilty plea, Olataga admits that on Mar. 13, 2019, he knowingly and unlawfully entered a Warehouse building in Tafuna for the purpose of committing a crime. While he was inside the building, Olataga admits that he took a computer with the value of $696, and a computer bag with the value of $45, and several electronic items whose value exceeded $500. Olataga admits that these items belong to somebody else.

Moreover, Olataga also admits that on the night of Mar. 9, 2019 in American Samoa, he knowingly and unlawfully entered another building in the Tafuna area with the purpose of committing a crime inside. While he was inside the building, he took several items without the owner’s permission and took them home with him. The value of the stolen items was over $600.

As a condition of the signed agreement between the parties, the government is recommending a probation term of 5 years.

Sentencing for Olataga is scheduled for Apr. 26, 2020.