A high court jury in American Samoa has acquitted a former School Lunch Program manager of embezzlement.
Toetu Solaita's attorney, David Vargas said said the allegations against his client arose only because Mr Solaita helped his employees when they needed it.
The government accused Toetu Solaita of misappropriating food items by allowing employees to take the items for personal use.
He was manager of the federally funded program between October 2002 to March 2003.
Mr Solaita has already pleaded guilty to similar charges in the federal court in Honolulu and is set for sentencing in early October.
