Samoan man sentenced at Honolulu fed court

Honolulu, HAWAII — A 30-year old man of Samoan decent was sentenced Feb. 11 at the federal court in Honolulu to serve 137 months in federal prison for robbery and attempted carjacking, according to the prosecutor and court documents.

Senior U.S District Judge Helen Gillmor handed down the jail term for Joshua Leiataua, who also received 120 months imprisonment, to be served concurrently with the 137 month-sentence, for possessing ammunition, a felon.

According to court documents and information presented in court, on April 5, 2020, Leiataua entered a mini mart in Waipahu (on the island of Oahu) brandished a firearm at the cashier, and demanded money. When the cashier was unable to open the register, Leiataua stole cartons of cigarettes and other items at gunpoint.

Then on May 13 of the same year, Leiataua and Shanice Fa’alogo attempted to steal a vehicle from two individuals in Waianae at gunpoint. On that date, Leiataua approached the male victim who was standing just outside of the vehicle, brandished a firearm at the victim, and demanded that he give up the vehicle.

Fa’alogo then took the firearm from Leiataua and discharged it in the direction of the male victim up in the air above him. Leiataua threw the female victim out of the vehicle by her hair. When Leiataua and Fa’alogo attempted to start the vehicle, they discovered the vehicle’s battery was dead and fled the scene.

At sentencing, Judge Gillmor commented that Leiataua’s criminal conduct—involving “violence and firearms”—and criminal history show a “lack of respect for the law,” said prosecutors in a statement.

Fa’alogo previously pleaded guilty to the attempted carjacking and is awaiting sentencing.