Co-defendant in Vaitogi drug bust enters a plea

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — One of the co-defendants in a Vaitogi drug case has entered a guilty plea to the charges against him.

Tolupene Wilson, 42, who was a delivery driver when police arrested him in the early morning of July 19, 2021 was initially charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, meth with intent to distribute; and one count of unlawful possession of meth; both felonies punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or both.

However, under a plea agreement with the government, Wilson agreed to plead guilty to an amended count of unlawful possession of meth, a class D felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than 5 years and a fine of nor more than $5,000, or both.

With his guilty plea, Wilson admits that on July. 19, 2020 while he was working as a delivery driver, he unlawfully possessed 3 glass pipes containing meth. Wilson further admits that when police pulled over his vehicle on the day of the incident, they found a glass pipe containing meth in his possession.

Wilson, who is still in custody unable to post a surety bond of $15,000, is scheduled to appear in court next month for sentencing.

His co-defendant, Mataalii Filisounu’u who is also in custody unable to post his surety bond of $15,000 is scheduled to appear in court next month for his pretrial conference.