 Fanene had served as the Director of the American Samoa Department of Youth and Women's Affairs.His employment was terminated by American Samoa's acting Lt. Gov Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga after Fanene was arrested for a May 26, 2019 incident where Fanene physically assaulted his wife and sister in front of his own son.Fanene is a member of a family with 12 children, and is married to his wife Lorelei.