Former customs officer, Sheehan Sam Seigafo, began serving a prison term of ten years on Tuesday.
Associate Justice Elvis Patea, flanked by Associate Judges Faamausili Pomele and Paepae Iosefa Faiai, sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of $5,000 for bribery; five year sand $5,000 for importation of contraband; and 15 days in jail and a fine of $300 for tampering with evidence. The jail sentences are to run consecutively, and Seigafo will be credited for the 105 days he spent at the Territorial Correctional Facility in pre trial confinement.
Before sentencing, Seigafo said he had accepted the verdict in his case and respectfully asks the court to give him a chance to be with his wife and children and to take care of his parents. He said his wife, a teacher, was ending her studies towards a bachelor’s degree this year and that he is the one who looks after their three children while she attended evening classes. He thanked members of his family, church, and village who were in court to support him.
His attorney, Neal Connors, said that his client had exercised bad judgement. He drew the court’s attention to Seigafo’s character and life, which he described as “a sea of positives.” He was a devoted father to his children, a dependable husband and the presence of many family members, friends and church members in court attested to his good character. He noted that among those present was Rev. Richard Faavae, the pastor for Seigafo’s church, a high chief of his family, Asuega Bill; and the Director of Health, an uncle of the defendant. Connors said this was Seigafo’s first mistake and that it had already affected his reputation, cost him his job, and may require him to relocate. He noted that Seigafo had spent three months at the TCF.
Mrs. Fiapaipai Fruean, an aunt of the defendant, testified in support of Seigafo. She described him as a family man who rarely socializes and prefers to spend time with his family. She said he is a devoted father and husband, a respected member of the village, and very active in the church.
Prosecutor Assistant Attorney General Sara Charpentier said the government appreciates and respects that the defendant has the support of so many. Unfortunately, the government cannot call on all those who have been affected by drugs: mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters.
She said Seigafo’s main role and responsibility as a customs officer was to keep things like methamphetamine out of the territory. “Instead, he helped facilitate and imported nearly 39 lbs of methamphetamine into the territory.” The prosecutor said the government’s recommendation for sentence has been included in the pre sentence report.
Delivering the sentence, Acting Associate Justice Patea said just as the government acknowledged the defendant’s wide support from family, friends, church members, and village, so too does the court acknowledge this wide support. The same support has been documented in the pre-sentence report. He noted that the government does not dispute that the defendant is a good husband, dependable father, and dutiful son, who according to his attorney, “exercised bad judgment and got caught up in something.”
He continued, “But that something Mr Seigafo that you’ve been caught up in is facilitating importation of extremely harmful substances causing destruction to wives, children, parents, church members and villages.”
Patea said it’s the court’s duty and obligation to balance all of his goodness against the potential harm that his facilitation would’ve wreaked on the community.
The 33-year-old, who was out on bail, was taken in to custody after his sentencing.
Seigafo’s conviction is related to the discovery of 38 vacuum-sealed packages containing crystal methamphetamine found in a box that Ollie Schuster picked up from the Post Office on July 26, 2024. The total weight of the methamphetamine was 39.9 lbs. It was revealed at trial that Seigafo offered a bribe of $3,000 to another customs officer to not inspect the box.
