One of the defendants charged in connection with the Food Stamp fraud case at the Department of Human and Social Services was sentenced Friday in District Court.
Jana Vasa, who was employed in the Issuance Office of the American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program was sentenced to 12 months probation and a fine of $1,000 for misdemeanor stealing.
In sentencing the defendant, District Court Judge Fiti Sunia noted that the defendant was originally charged with felony stealing however the government decided not to go forward with the felony charge and instead charged her with misdemeanor stealing.
Through a plea bargain agreement, Vasa pled guilty to the misdemeanor charge.
Mitigating factors were that the defendant admitted very early on to the charge and she took full responsibility for her actions.
Sunia told the defendant she not only made a poor decision, she committed a serious crime which made a huge impact on the Food Stamp Program.
He said what she did showed taxpayers and the community that they could not trust her any more.
The judge delivered a 12 months jail term which was suspended on condition that Vasa be placed on probation for 12 months and serve 90 days in jail.
The jail term was also suspended as long as she complies with conditions of her probation.
As part of Vasa’s plea agreement she is to cooperate in the investigation of the other two defendants charged in the Food Stamp fraud case, Vincent Toeava and Liren Zhang.
