Defendants involved in gambling operation appear in District Court

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Seven men appeared in the District Court this week on gambling charges.  

The defendants, Floyd Amotai, Christopher Vaega, Sinapati Tuufanua, Bin Feng, Fogavao Ese, Cajetan Diongi Makuisa, and Te Qin Huang are all out on bail. 

Court filings stated that on April 28, 2025, an agent of the American Samoa Department of Homeland Security forwarded a video recording to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID). This video clip, recorded by an anonymous source on April 26, 2025, initially showed the exterior of a building in Nu’uuli, which had previously housed the now-defunct "684 Cloud" business. 

As the anonymous videographer entered the building, the footage revealed curtains behind the entrance doors. After walking through these curtains, the inside of the building revealed about eight tabletops with interactive screens, resembling a casino floor. Each table was large, with the screens covering most of the tabletop. Each table had six joysticks and two buttons next to each joystick, plus six bill acceptors below each station. The tables were designed for up to six players

To learn more about this footage, the investigator shared the video with an anonymous source, referred to as John Doe, to offer valuable insights based on his experience at a gaming establishment in Hawaii. 

According to John Doe, the tabletops in the video are used for a game called "Fish." He explained how to play the game and said the tables function like gambling machines. Players usually spend between ten and twenty dollars to play, with chances to win up to $10,000. John Doe shared that he worked as a security officer in two Fish game rooms in Hawaii for about two years. He noted that while the game is popular in Hawaii, it is illegal there, and the FBI has closed down several game rooms over the years. He also mentioned that illicit drug distribution is often linked to game rooms in Hawaii. John Doe stated that the Fish tables shown in the video resembled those he had seen while working in Hawaii. 

He explained the game mechanics. Players deposit money into the table using the bill acceptors, and the amount spent determines the number of points they earn. Some tables show fish swimming across the screen, while others display birds and animals. John Doe said the maximum bet at a table in Hawaii is $5.00 USD. If a player "kills" the "phoenix," which is the largest fish, they earn a lot of points. He clarified that payouts depend on the points players accumulate during the game.

On May 5, 2025, the Commissioner's Office of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) received a letter from Ms. Ali'imuamua Magdalene Petaia, the Director of the American Samoa Department of Commerce (DOC). The letter requested an investigation into illegal gambling activities following an anonymous complaint regarding such activities occurring in Nu’uuli. The Director noted that an unidentified individual had contacted her anonymously with the concerns. In an interview, Director Petaia noted that her inspection team lacked the necessary training to identify illegal gaming machines.

During a police investigation into a suspected gambling operation, a DOC inspector provided photos of the building's interior that resembled video footage that was previously reviewed. The images depicted large tabletop screens, folding chairs set up next to the tables, and decorative lights hanging on the walls. After examining the footage, it was decided to conduct a further investigation into the building suspected of housing the gambling operation.

According to the Department of Commerce (DOC), the building belongs to Tino Logoai and is leased to Taavili Junior Tuitupou. The business is registered as "Abundance Arcade," with Tuitupou as the sole owner. 

Field surveillance around Abundance Arcade began on May 5, 2025. It revealed that the arcade was sparsely populated during the day but busy at night, with some individuals dropping off and others parking there. Most vehicles stayed from late at night until early morning.

The investigator spoke with another police officer who confirmed the existence of an arcade on the island. In early April 2025, the officer received an invitation to the arcade in Nu'uuli at the former 684 Vape location. Independent research revealed that the electronic fish tables mimic sport fishing, allowing players to bet on catching fish. Players must navigate obstacles, and larger catches result in bigger payouts. These games are exclusively played in person at fish tables with large animated screens.

An application for a search warrant for the Abundance Arcade premises was submitted to the District Court on June 18, 2025. The next day, Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division and the Vice and Narcotics Unit executed the search warrant. 

Six male individuals present at the scene were detained and later brought in for questioning. The individuals were Christopher Vaega, Floyd Amotai, Levi Leasiolagi, Fogavi Ese, Te Qin Huang, and Bin Feng. The search resulted in the confiscation of eight Fish table machines, electronic hard drives, documents, machine spare parts, certain controlled substances, and $46,261.00 in cash. A sign posted inside the game room stated, "IF YOU DO CASH OUT, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THE CASHIER."

Christopher Vaega waived his constitutional rights and chose to make a statement. He recounted that last Christmas, his cousin Tufa Tagata in Hawaii asked him to meet his friend Vili (Tuitupou), who was trying to open a business on the island. Vaega later learned from Tagata that Tuitupou was hiring security guards, and he took the job for the good pay, inviting Amotai and Leasiolagi to join him. They earned $10.00 an hour and received tips from players who cashed out.

Vaega explained that Huang and Feng run the establishment, taking turns each month. Huang arrived from Hawaii to replace Feng, scheduled to leave on June 19, 2025. Vaega described the operation as similar to legal gambling, like bingo.

When asked if the landlord visited the game room, Vaega stated that only Logoai's wife came by to play occasionally. He also mentioned that some women would visit after bingo at night. Vaega confirmed that he had hired Vani Vaega, who was fired by Bin Feng two weeks ago for stealing money from the machine.

Court filings say that Amotai was hired as a security guard and worked from 6 AM to 6 PM. It was during the execution of the search warrant (SW No. 003-25) that straws and crystalline substances were discovered on him. This case has been referred to the Vice and Narcotics division for further investigation and is currently under investigation by Detective Leota.

Ese told the police he is a player who learned about the game room two months ago. It is managed by Chinese owners and has five employees. He mentioned that it can get crowded sometimes. Since he started playing, he has cashed out three times for a total of $1,550.00 USD.

Feng told the police that he was hired by a man named Jimmy, who owns game rooms in Hawaii. Jimmy offered him a job in a game room in Samoa, showing him the business license, which Feng believed to be legitimate. Feng explained that he worked as a banker, collecting and counting money from the machines, paying the security staff, taking his own salary, and storing the money in a locker. He added that security is overseen by Christopher Vaega and his team. 

Court documents reveal that Huang told police he is a regular player at a game room in Hawaii, where he met a Samoan named Moli. Moli hired Huang to work at a game room in American Samoa and showed him the business license, claiming it was legal.

Huang stated that he and Feng take turns working each month and that he started in March 2025. He clarified that he is a banker responsible for managing the money and passes the current balance to Feng when he arrives. Huang also mentioned that someone always comes to collect the money in Hawaii.

Both Huang and Feng described the Abundance Arcade game room as "slow" compared to the typical business traffic of Hawaiian game rooms.

On June 22, 2025, Ivan Moli voluntarily visited the DPS Headquarters to participate in an interview. Moli explained that Taavili Tuitupou is named after his uncle and that he had traveled to Hawaii in June 2024 to celebrate his uncle's birthday. He clarified that he is not related to Tuitupou by blood; rather, their relationship is similar to that of brothers or cousins. Moli mentioned that Tuitupou had recruited him, and at that time, he was unaware of any details or violations connected to game rooms in Hawaii.

Moli further explained that Tuitupou approached him in 2024 about helping him and his investors establish a game room. In Moli's opinion, it didn’t seem harmful at the time. Tuitupou described the venture as being similar to bingo, where players shoot fish to win money. Moli stated that his role was to find a location for the game room. He met with Mark, who is actually Ke Qin Huang, and another person named Elton, both of whom were assisting Tuitupou with the business.

Moli was unaware of any negative consequences and began looking for a suitable place. He happened to know someone selling a location in Nuuuli, where a vape shop had previously operated before being banned. Moli asked the seller, Mathew Dither Barja, if he could use Moli's name to help secure the location. Tuitupou sent $8,000.00 to Moli's sister, who then forwarded the funds to him. Moli used $5,000.00 to pay the vape shop owner and kept the remainder for securing the spot.

Later, after researching what a game room truly entails, Moli discovered its problematic aspects, particularly how it operated in Hawaii. Realizing that it wasn't suitable for him due to the harm it could cause, he decided not to participate. Moli mentioned that Tuitupou visited the island around the New Year and was working on obtaining the business license and lease for the game room. Moli attempted to delay the process by telling Tuitupou he was busy, but Tuitupou ultimately completed the business license and secured a new lease. Moli preferred that his name be removed from all documents. He stated that Tuitupou, Huang, Feng, and Elton were business partners. Additionally, the investigation revealed that Moli's phone number, 782-7099, was listed on the business license application.

On June 23, 2025, Cajetan Dionigi Makuisa, known as Nick, was interviewed at the Fagatogo Police Headquarters. He had worked at the Abundance Arcade since its opening, earning $10.00 USD per hour. Makuisa was unaware of the owner's identity but noted that Huang and Feng took turns managing the arcade. He is the brother of Amotai.

Sinapati Tuufaanatu was also interviewed on June 23, 2025. He had just started working at the arcade the previous Monday and mentioned that he was recruited by Nick. Tuufaanatu was paid $10.00 USD per hour and indicated that he did not have much knowledge about the situation since the game room was raided before his second day of work.

Tino Logoai, interviewed on June 26, 2025, claimed he knew nothing of any illegal gambling activities. He stated that the arcade's lease began in August 2024 and would expire in August 2025, and that the business primarily focused on arcade games, such as Pac-Man. Logoai maintained that he went there only to collect rent.

Documents indicated that during the execution of the search warrant, a total of approximately $46,261 was seized. Of this amount, around $13,054 was identified as "bank money," based on a log recovered during the search. Additionally, $3,260 was identified as belonging to FENG, while the remaining $29,947 was suspected to be "house money." Some of the cash was discovered inside an office drawer, some in a bag, and the rest in a white locker mentioned by FENG. The machines contained less than $100 in total. The investigation revealed that the bank money was used to fund players' winnings; at the end of each 12-hour gaming session, the game room would total the amount earned, including payouts and expenses such as payments for security guards and the cashier.