Former Customs Supervisor Gets 28 Months in Jail for Embezzling Over
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PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018 $1.00 Members of the Interact Club of Leone High School unloading trash bins they donated to Leone Midki Elementary School this week. Prin- cipal Soani accepted the bins and said he is was very grateful and appre- ciates the club’s donation as prior to this, there were only four trash bins on the entire campus. e bins marked “FEED ME” will go a long way to keeping Leone Midki clean. e Rotary Club of Pago Pago spon- C M sors the Leone High School Interact Y K Club. [courtesy photo] ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM DAILY CIRCULATION 7,000 Former Customs supervisor gets 28 months in jail for embezzling over $11,000 HIS PARENTS APOLOGIZED TO EVERYONE IN THE ASG CHAIN OF COMMAND by Ausage Fausia The mother said when they asked Maifea Samoa News Reporter about what happened, he apologized to them and The former Customs Offi ce supervisor who said he only took $3,379 breached the trust of the American Samoa Gov- “After speaking with our son, we then went ernment (ASG) when he embezzled over $11,000 to the Treasurer and apologized to him on behalf he was supposed to deposit with the Treasury of our son. We also went to the Chief of Cus- Department — is going to jail. toms and apologized to him. We indicated to him Sefulu Maifea was sentenced by the High that we’re willing to pay back the money our son Court last week to serve 28 months at the Territo- used,” the mother said, adding that they didn’t rial Correctional Facility (TCF), as a condition of stop there, as they went a step further and asked a 7-year probation sentence. Gov. Lolo and Lt. Gov. Lemanu to forgive their NOAA CORPS ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL AWARDED The 48-year-old appeared for sentencing last son for what he did. Yesterday morning, NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary of Friday. “The governor then called the Treasurer, the American Samoa (NMSAS) was honored to present the NOAA Prosecuting the case was Assistant Attorney AG (Attorney General) and the DHR (Director Corps Achievement Medal to LTjg (Lieutenant Junior Grade) General Woodrow Pengelly while Acting of Human Resources), and advised them to make Lauren Jarlenski. Public Defender Michael White represented the sure our son’s name stays in the government e award, according to NMSAS o cials, is for Jarlenski’s defendant. system. He also advised them to do something to “sustained superior performance as Junior O cer and Naviga- When given the chance to address the court, make sure the system shows that our son properly tion O cer aboard the NOAA Ship, Pisces”. Maifea apologized to “all the people he loves” retired, instead of terminating his service,” said LTjg Jarlenski reported to the NMSAS in July 2017 a er including his elderly parents, daughter, family, the tearful mother. serving two years aboard the Pisces — a sheries research vessel church and village — he did not apologize to the She told the court that her husband is very stationed in Mississippi. ASG. old, and Sefulu is her right hand in family affairs, When asked for comments yesterday, LTjg Jarlenski explained “Your honor, I made a terrible mistake which he cares for them and she wants him to continue C M that the NOAA Corps is part of the National Oceanic and Atmo- hurt the people I love so much, including my doing just that. Y K spheric Administration (NOAA), which falls under the United elderly parents, my family, church, and my vil- White told the court his client is prepared States Department of Commerce. lage. I’m not proud of what I did but I’m proud to pay $5,000 in restitution, and the remaining “And one of the line o ces is the O ce of Marine and Avia- because I learned a lot from it. I feel remorseful, balance will be paid throughout the period of tion Operations (OMAO) under which there are approximately ashamed and sorry for what I did. I apologize to probation. 16 research ships. Pisces is one of them,” she said. the court for my actions and I ask for a second Prosecutor Pengelly on the other hand argued “When i joined, I became a part of uniform service, meaning chance to continue my service to my parents and that the defendant breached the government’s I don’t go on overseas deployment like those in the US Navy or my 4-year-old daughter,” Maifea said, whose trust by committing the crime of embezzlement. Coast Guard. My rst assignment was on board a ship, and parents were present in court during sentencing. He further stated that what Maifea did is proof a erwards I rotated to a land assignment which is how i ended Maifea’s mother, called to testify on his that he has no respect for the law, as this is not the up here in American Samoa,” she continued, adding that once behalf, was in tears and begged the court to give fi rst time he’s been convicted for a criminal act. she completes her assignment with the NMSAS, she will rotate her son another chance so he can care for them. A few years ago, according to the government, back to a sea assignment. According to the mother’s testimony, Maifea Maifea was convicted three times for driving “Our job has us rotating between sea and land assignments is the 2nd of 8 children, and he’s the only child under the infl uence (DUI), and two times for and as we rotate and advance, we gain more responsibilities living with them on island. The rest live off island third degree assault. in the maritime community and also administrative tasks for with their families. “He stole money from his own government NOAA,” she shared. The mother told the court they were shocked and his own people,” Pengelly continued. e NOAA Corps Achievement Medal that was presented to hear that their son was arrested for taking The prosecutor asked the court to sentence to LTjg Jarlenski yesterday is for her performance on board the money from the government, something they did Maifea to 7 years probation under the condition Pisces. not think he would do. that he serves 24 months in detention and pay When asked about her role on board the NOAA ship, LTgr According to her, these things occurred when restitution of $11,516.98 Jarlenski said she wore a variety of hats. “Junior O cers have she and her husband were off island for her hus- During sentencing, Kruse pointed out that band’s medical appointments last year. Maifea was arrested while employed by the Cus- (Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 10) Page 2 samoa news, Tuesday, May 8, 2018 by Ausage Fausia AMEPEROSA VUI Samoa News Reporter A 32-year-old man from PAULO PAULO JR Fagaima who is accused of The 21-year-old man using a rock to assault another accused of selling marijuana man has been arrested and joints at the cannery last year charged with second degree has pled guilty. assault — a felony — and two Detectives from the DPS misdemeanor charges: property Vice & Narcotics Unit arrested damage and unlawful use of a Paulo Paulo Jr. on Sept. 22, 2017 weapon. after receiving information from Ameperosa Vui made his StarKist Samoa employees that initial appearance in the Dis- a man was selling drugs to can- trict Court last week where he nery workers. waived his right to a preliminary Paulo Jr. was initially examination. His next court charged with two felonies: appearance is this Thursday at unlawful possession of a con- 9a.m. in High Court where he trolled substance (marijuana), is expected to enter a not guilty and unlawful possession of mar- plea. ijuana with intent to distribute. According to the govern- Under a plea agreement with FILE - In this Monday, July 17, 2017 le photo, escort volunteers line up outside the EMW Wom- ment, Vui and the victim got the government, Paulo pled into a disagreement and the en’s Surgical Center in Louisville, Ky. On July 21, 2017, a federal judge established a buer zone out- guilty to unlawful possession side the clinic to keep anti-abortion protesters from assembling in front of the entrance, aer at least victim allegedly attempted to on a controlled substance, to assault Vui but in the end, it was 10 protesters were arrested for blocking it earlier in the month. (AP Photo/Dylan Lovan) wit; marijuana. The remaining Vui who assaulted the victim charge was dismissed. with a rock. With his guilty plea, Paulo Vui’s attorney, Assis- Jr. admits that on Sept. 22, tant Public Defender, Ryan 2017 at the StarKist Samoa Anderson, asked the court for a FINANCE AND compound in Atu’u, he had in reduction in bail — from $5,000 his possession a small bag con- to $1,000. Anderson told the ADMINISTRATION MANAGER taining 24 marijuana joints. He court his client is a hardworking further admits that on the day he man and he’s the only member ASCO MOTORS – AMERICAN SAMOA was arrested, he sold some of of his family who works to pro- the marijuana joints to cannery vide for his wife and two chil- employees. dren. He said his client is not a Asco Motors is a subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho South Pacific Holdings and is the only authorized dealer Chief Justice Michael Kruse flight risk, and he has no inten- and distributor of Toyota and Yamaha in the South Pacific.