District of the Virgin Islands
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
St. Croix Man Sentenced to Probation, Home Detention for Facilitating Drug FelonyRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI –District Court Chief Judge Wilma A. Lewis on Wednesday sentenced Carl Hansen, 56, of St., Croix, to four years of probation for using a phone to facilitate a drug felony, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Chief Judge Lewis also ordered Hansen to serve the first six months of his probation on home detention, pay a $100 special assessment, and perform 200 hours of community service.
On April 14, 2016, Hansen pleaded guilty to using a communication facility to facilitate a drug felony. According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on May 7, 2015, Hansen had a telephone conversation with a co-defendant to set up a purchase of controlled substances for a third party. Although Hansen did not personally sell any controlled substances, his actions facilitated the drug deal.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anna A. Vlasova.
Judge Sentences Man to 21 months for Role in Drug Trafficking TransactionRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez today sentenced Marco Asala-Belgar, 35, of the Dominican Republic, to 21 months’ imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release for misprision of a felony. Judge Gomez also ordered Asala-Belgar to pay a $100 special assessment and perform 200 hours of community service.
During his trial in April, Asala-Belgar pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony. Two of his co-defendants, Alexandro Gerandino-Aracena, 39, of the Dominican Republic, and Ricardo Cardona, 35, of Puerto Rico, were found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and various firearms possession charges.
According to Asala-Belgar’s plea agreement and evidence presented at trial, on September 3, 2015, Gerandino-Aracena, Cardona, and another co-defendant, Pedro Guzman, 35, of the Dominican Republic, traveled in a private vessel from Fajardo, Puerto Rico to the Marine Center Dock at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas to purchase 100 kilograms of cocaine. Upon arrival in St. Thomas, they met with other conspirators to collect the cocaine in exchange for $250,000 and three assault rifles. Asala-Belgar drove the green Ford Explorer that delivered the money for the cocaine. When Asala-Belgar was interviewed by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents, he did not tell the agents that his co-defendants had arranged to deliver the money in exchange for cocaine.
This case was investigated by the DEA, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte and Delia Smith.
Puerto Rico Man Sentenced to 126 Months in Prison for Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced today Jose Luis Ponce-Pagan, 36, of Puerto Rico, to 126 months’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release for conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Judge Gomez ordered Ponce-Pagan to pay a $100 special assessment and perform 300 hours of community service.
On March 29, 2016, Ponce-Pagan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute. According to the plea agreement filed with the court, between August 30, 2015, and September 3, 2015, Ponce-Pagan and at least one other person arranged to purchase approximately 100 kilograms of cocaine on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, for distribution in Puerto Rico.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
Former Virgin Islands Senator Charged with Wire Fraud and Embezzlement of Legislative FundsRead the Press Release
A former Virgin Islands senator was arrested on June 29, 2016, in Modena, Italy, and extradited today for allegedly defrauding the government of the Virgin Islands of tens of thousands of dollars while he served as a senator in the territorial legislature.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe of the District of the Virgin Islands, Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Leff of the FBI’s San Juan Division and Virgin Islands Inspector General Steven Van Beverhoudt made the announcement.
Wayne Anthony Gunnar James, 55, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, was indicted on Oct. 1, 2015, with two counts of wire fraud and one count of federal program embezzlement.
According to the indictment, from 2009 to 2011, James served as Chair of the Senate Committee on Youth, Education and Culture in the 28th Legislature of the Virgin Islands. While serving as the chair, James allegedly obtained tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars for the purpose of acquiring and translating historical documents related to the “Fireburn,” an 1878 uprising by freed slaves in St. Croix. The indictment alleges that James submitted false documents to the legislature and received cash advances in order to conduct historical research on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands. James embezzled the cash advances for his own personal benefit instead of using them for the intended purposes, according to the indictment.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI, Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Amanda R. Vaughn and Justin D. Weitz of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of the Virgin Islands are prosecuting the case. Cristina M. Posa of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter.
St. Thomas Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Naeem Akil Smith, 24, of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty on August 11, 2016, in federal court on St. Thomas to trafficking 18 firearms in interstate and foreign commerce, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2016.
According to the plea agreements filed with the court, on April 27, 2016, at the Cyril E. King Airport, a law enforcement K-9 alerted to the presence of firearms inside of luggage checked in Smith’s name. CBP officers examined Smith’s luggage, which revealed one Taurus pistol, 15 Glock pistols, and two AK-47 assault rifles. His luggage also contained two AK-47 magazines, 36 other pistol magazines with capacities ranging from 9 to 15 rounds, 10 speed loaders, twenty .40 caliber Smith and Wesson rounds, and a storage box.
Smith faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than five years, and a $250,000.00 fine. Smith was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
This case was a result of Operation Gun Dog formed by law enforcement officials from CBP, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Marshals Service, Transportation Security Administration, Virgin Islands Port Authority and Virgin Islands Police Department to interdict contraband travelling through the Cyril E. King Airport and deter criminal activity during the St. Thomas Carnival. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia Smith.
58-year-old St. Thomas Man and Victim’s Mother Sentenced for Transportation of a Minor for SexRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI - District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez today sentenced Jenifer Bowen-Dodoo, 51, and Lennox Phillips, 58, to 120 and 130 months in prison, respectively, for transporting Bowen-Dodoo’s minor daughter for sex, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Judge Gomez also sentenced Bowen-Dodoo to 10 years of supervised release and 400 hours of community service, and ordered her to pay a special assessment of $100. Judge Gomez then ordered Phillips to serve 10 years of supervised release and 500 hours of community service, and pay a fine of $15,000 and a special assessment of $100.
Phillips and Bowen-Dodoo, both of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty to transporting a minor for sex. According to court records, Phillips transported Bowen-Dodoo’s 13-year-old daughter in his taxi van for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. Bowen-Dodoo allowed her daughter to have sex with Phillips, and Phillips paid Dodoo so he could continue to have sex with the victim. Phillips’ and Bowen-Dodoo’s criminal conduct was discovered when an employee at the victim’s school observed Phillips driving the victim away from the school when she should have been attending school.
Suspected child exploitation or missing children cases may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children via its toll-free 24–hour hotline at 202-514-5678, or to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations at (340) 693-2250.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Virgin Islands Police Department, and the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Atlanta Women Plead Guilty to Possession of Marijuana with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Noelle Bishopel, 27, and Sierra Wimberly, 25, each pleaded guilty today in District Court on St. Thomas to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the plea agreement, on April 6, 2016, U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection officers detected narcotics in checked bags belonging to Wimberly and Bishopel after their arrival at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas on a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta, Ga. Both women were taken to secondary inspection, and their checked bags were further examined. CBP officers seized approximately 4.9 kilograms of marijuana from Wimberly’s bag, and 9.45 kilograms of marijuana from Bishopel’s bag.
Wimberly and Bishopel each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2016.
This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard Potter.
St. Croix Man Sentenced for Robbery and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Chief District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis on August 4, 2016, sentenced Daniel Ramos, 41, to seven years in prison for using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and 33 months in prison for interference with commerce by robbery, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. The sentences are to be served consecutively. Judge Lewis also sentenced Ramos to two terms of supervised release to be served concurrently, and a special monetary assessment of $200.
Ramos pleaded guilty on January 14, 2016. According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on June 21, 2014, Ramos and his co-defendant, Edigberto Diaz, armed with handguns, entered Quality Foods located at Estate Castle Coakley in St. Croix. They went into an office area, pointed their handguns at two individuals, and demanded that they open the safe. The defendant and co-defendant removed deposit bags containing $24,289.17 in cash and checks from the safe. They also took cellular telephones, a music player, a laptop computer, a checkbook, and backpacks from the victims. Diaz, who carried a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun with an obliterated serial number, was shot at the scene by police. Ramos carried a toy gun and fled the scene. He was recognized on a surveillance video and arrested.
This case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Drug User in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Dwayne Wesselhoft, 29, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court on St. Croix to possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to court records, on October 1, 2015, agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted a consent search at Wesselhoft’s residence located at 141 Clifton Hill, St. Croix. The search uncovered a 9mm Luger pistol in the master bedroom which Wesselhoft admitted was his. The agents also found a container with marijuana. Wesselhoft admitted to smoking two marijuana “joints” per day for the past five-six years.
Wesselhoft faces a maximum of 10 years of incarceration and a maximum fine of $250,000. A sentencing date has been set for December 7, 2016.
The case was investigated by the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso Andrews, Jr.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Winston Curtis Venner, 34, pleaded guilty on August 4, 2016, in federal court on St. Croix to felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, police officers stopped Venner’s vehicle on Rattan Road, St. Croix, Virgin Islands. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Officers observed and seized a pistol from inside the vehicle. Venner was previously convicted of assault third degree in 2005 in the Virgin Islands Superior Court.
Venner faces a maximum of 10 years of incarceration and a maximum fine of $250,000. A sentencing date has been set for December 7, 2016.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso Andrews, Jr.
Man Charged in District Court with Trafficking in FirearmsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Mohammed Jubran, 27, made his initial appearance in District Court Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged with trafficking in firearms in a one-count criminal complaint, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. At a detention hearing Wednesday, the Court issued an order detaining Jubran pending trial, and set a preliminary hearing for Monday, July 18.
According to the complaint, Jubran, who is not a federally licensed firearms dealer, was trafficking in firearms on St. Thomas between September 2015 and February 2016. If convicted of trafficking in firearms, Jubran faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a charging document, and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte.
St. Croix Man Sentenced to 50 Months in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Chief District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis on Tuesday sentenced Misael Melendez, a/k/a Salao, 50, to 50 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Chief Judge Lewis also ordered Melendez to pay a $100 special assessment and a $2,000 fine.
On January 28, 2016, Melendez pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on February 11, 2015, Melendez sold a stolen .22 caliber rifle to an undercover informant. In 2009, Melendez had been convicted of a felony, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in the District Court of the Virgin Islands.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Virgin Islands Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte.
British Virgin Islands Man Sentenced to ThreeMonths in Prison for Alien SmugglingRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI - District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced today Ashemba Frett, 22, of Tortola, British Virgin Islands, to three months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release for encouraging and inducing aliens to illegally enter the United States, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Judge Gomez ordered Frett to pay a $100 special assessment and perform 300 hours of community service.
On March 3, 2016, Frett pleaded guilty to encouraging and inducing aliens to illegally enter the United States. According to the plea agreement filed with the court, the United States Coast Guard (USSG) conducted a safety stop on a vessel in Jersey Bay, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The vessel was operated by an unidentified individual. Frett jumped into the water, but was apprehended by the Coast Guard. A Haitian national and a national from the Dominican Republic were on-board the vessel. Frett admitted that the Dominican Republic national paid him $700 to travel to St. Thomas from Tortola and that Frett knew he did not possess the proper documents to lawfully enter the United States.
The case was investigated by the USSG, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
Three Defendants Enter Guilty Pleas to Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – On July 6, 2016, Tamisha Mc Bean, 32, of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty in federal court on St. Thomas, to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Co-defendants Demincia Dore, 30, of St. Thomas, and Kishma Weeks, 26, of St. Croix, pleaded guilty on June 30, 2016 and July 5, 2016, respectively, to the same charge. Sentencings for all three defendants are scheduled for November 3, 2016.
According to the plea agreements filed with the court, between July 2012 and December 2013, Mc Bean, Weeks and Dore joined a drug trafficking conspiracy whose members shipped barrels containing at least 700 kilograms but less than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana concealed in “Chow Mein” cans from Los Angeles, California to St. Thomas utilizing a trucking service. Weeks and Dore later deposited the proceeds from the marijuana sales into their bank accounts in St. Thomas and subsequently wired the proceeds electronically to members of the conspiracy in the mainland United States. Mc Bean, on the other hand, utilized the bank accounts of Jamila Felix, a member of the conspiracy, to deposit and later wire marijuana proceeds from Felix’s bank accounts. Mc Bean, Weeks and Dore face a maximum sentence of 20 years, and a fine of not more than $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in their transactions, whichever is greater.
On May 16, 2016, co-defendants Clarence Griffin, Robert Brown pled guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and Jamila Felix pled guilty to money laundering conspiracy. On April 20, 2016, co-defendant Larry Thompson also pled guilty to misprision of felony.
“To be truly effective in our efforts to stop the illicit distribution of drugs, it is not enough to interrupt their flow. Members of law enforcement must also make drug trafficking unprofitable to criminals such as those involved in this conspiracy,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe. This investigation and the resulting guilty pleas clearly demonstrate that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement colleagues are committed to dismantling the illicit drug trade.”
"The defendants in this case were part of a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy and engaged in a money laundering conspiracy to conceal the proceeds of the marijuana sales. IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to unraveling financial transactions and money laundering schemes where individuals attempt to conceal the true source of their money. We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office and other law enforcement partners to enforce the law and follow the money, wherever it leads,” said Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS-CI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia L. Smith.
Puerto Rico Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Bribing Public OfficialRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced today Miguel Rodriguez-Ramirez, 45, of Puerto Rico, to 18 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release for bribery of a public official, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Judge Gomez ordered Rodriguez-Ramirez to pay a $100 special assessment, perform 300 hours of community service, and forfeit the $12,080.00 used to bribe the public official.
On February 12, 2016, Rodriguez-Ramirez pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official. According to the plea agreement filed with the court, between July 2015 and December 2015, Rodriquez-Ramirez bribed a public official by paying that public official to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States. Rodriquez-Ramirez paid the public official a total of $12,080 to shepherd the illegal aliens through customs at the Cyril E. King Airport.
The case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Internal Affairs and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte.
Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – On July 5, 2016, Keenan Powell-Ryder, 20, pleaded guilty in District Court to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the plea agreement filed with the Court, on April 19, 2016, Powell-Ryder possessed with intent to distribute marijuana by smuggling the marijuana into the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Powell-Ryder transported the marijuana from the mainland United States.
Powell-Ryder faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is the result of investigative work by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David White.
St. Thomas Man Arrested for Making Threats in Interstate CommerceRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Thomas Troy Bitter, 36, made his initial appearance in District Court today before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after his arrest on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, for using his e-mail account to send threatening communications, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Magistrate Miller remanded Bitter to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending detention and preliminary hearings scheduled for June 22, 2016.
According to a criminal complaint filed in the District Court, Bitter used his e-mail account to send threatening communications to various law enforcement personnel including a federal law enforcement officer in St. Thomas and a federal judge in California. If convicted, Thomas faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Smuggle 8.5 Kilograms of Marijuana to the Virgin IslandsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – On Wednesday, June 15, 2016, Bert Donadelle, Jr., 26, of Georgia, pleaded guilty in District Court on St. Thomas to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on April 3, 2016, at the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) K-9 detected narcotics in a checked bag belonging to Donadelle, who had arrived on a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta. CBP officers examined the contents of the bag, resealed it, and placed it on the carousel for retrieval. Donadelle retrieved the bag, and a second checked bag bearing his name, from the baggage claim area. CBP officers seized and field-tested a total of approximately 8.5 kilograms or more of marijuana from Donadelle’s bags.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez permitted Donadelle to remain on release pending his November 3, 2016, sentencing date. Donadelle faces a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim L. Chisholm.
Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing 20 Kilograms of Marijuana with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Deonte Damari Bailey, 24, pleaded guilty on Monday, June 13, 2016, in District Court on St. Thomas to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the plea agreement, on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, Bailey arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, on board a Delta Airlines flight from New York. Bailey’s flight had originated in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bailey removed his suitcase from the conveyor belt when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers conducting routine inspections, along with CBP canine Castro, alerted to the presence of narcotics. Bailey was escorted to secondary inspection for further investigation. During secondary inspection, CBP officers discovered a second baggage tag. Officers went to Delta Airlines baggage claim and retrieved a second suitcase belonging to Bailey. Both suitcases were inspected and each contained approximately 10 kilograms of marijuana. When questioned, Bailey admitted that he had possession of both bags from the time he packed them until he checked them in with Delta Airlines in Las Vegas.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez permitted Bailey to remain on release pending his October 12, 2016, sentencing date. Bailey faces a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.
This case was investigated by CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nelson L. Jones.
Jury Convicts St. Croix Man of Conspiracy and Bank Robbery OffensesRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – After a six-day trial, on June 8, 2016, a federal jury on St. Croix convicted Damian Lang, Sr., 37, of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
Lang faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy and a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison for bank robbery. Lang was immediately remanded. No sentencing date has been set.
Evidence presented at trial established that on September 2, 2014, Lang and another individual entered the Bank of St. Croix in Gallows Bay, Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, wearing hoodies and masks. Lang jumped the teller counter with a plastic bag and took cash from the till of several tellers. The other individual stood guard at the door with a gun pointed at the employees. They both ran out of the bank and into a stolen Chevy Equinox that they abandoned in a nearby lot. The evidence also established that Lang was under house arrest with electronic monitoring in a pending Superior Court case. GPS tracking placed Lang in the bank at the time of the robbery.
This case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rhonda Williams-Henry and Alphonso Andrews.
Michigan Woman Pleads Guilty to Possessing Marijuana with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI - Deangelia D. Quintana, 30, pleaded guilty today in District Court on St. Thomas to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the plea agreement, on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, Quintana arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, on board a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta, Georgia. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers approached Quintana as she approached the carousel at the baggage claim area and removed two bags. Quintana was taken to secondary inspection where CBP officers searched her bags and discovered a large bundle of plastic in each bag. Within the plastics, CBP discovered approximately 19.5 kilos of what was determined to be marijuana. When questioned, Quintana admitted that the bags were hers.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez permitted Quintana to remain on release pending her October 6, 2016, sentencing date. Quintana faces a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest St. Thomas Man for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Eugene Monsanto, Jr., 40, made his initial appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in a complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Monsanto was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service after preliminary and detention hearings today pending further proceedings.
According to the complaint, on Monday, May 30, 2016, Monsanto, who was aboard the M/V Sundance Queen, presented himself for inspection at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) St. John Port of Entry. A CBP officer conducted a routine inspection and found a fully loaded .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver inside of Monsanto’s carry-on.
Under federal law if convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, Monsanto faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim L. Chisholm.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest St. Thomas Man for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Eugene Monsanto, Jr., 40, made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in a complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Monsanto was released on an unsecured $10,000 bond and to the third-party custody of his mother pending further proceedings.
According to the complaint, on Sunday, May 30, 2016, Monsanto, who was aboard the M/V Sundance Queen, presented himself for inspection at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) St. John Port of Entry. A CBP officer conducted a routine inspection and found a fully loaded .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver inside of Monsanto’s carry-on.
Under federal law if convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, Monsanto faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim L. Chisholm.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest St. Thomas Man for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Eugene Monsanto, Jr., 40, made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in a complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Monsanto was released on an unsecured $10,000 bond and to the third-party custody of his mother pending further proceedings.
According to the complaint, on Sunday, May 30, 2016, Monsanto, who was aboard the M/V Sundance Queen, presented himself for inspection at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) St. John Port of Entry. A CBP officer conducted a routine inspection and found a fully loaded .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver inside of Monsanto’s carry-on.
Under federal law if convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, Monsanto faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim L. Chisholm.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
St. Thomas Man Sentenced to Six Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced today Edridge Clyne, 45, to six months imprisonment followed by six months of home confinement and two years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Judge Gomez ordered Clyne to pay a $100 special assessment and perform 400 hours of community service.
On February 5, 2016, Clyne pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. According to the plea agreement filed with the Court on February 25, 2015, Clyne visited Tropical Shipping in St. Thomas to pick up a hot water heater and freezer. During a routine inspection, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) canine alerted to the presence of narcotics. CBP officers inspected the containers and discovered a total of 24 kilograms of marijuana hidden inside the appliances.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), CBP and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
St. Thomas Man Sentenced to Six Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced today Edridge Clyne, 45, to six months imprisonment followed by six months of home confinement and two years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Judge Gomez ordered Clyne to pay a $100 special assessment and perform 400 hours of community service.
On February 5, 2016, Clyne pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. According to the plea agreement filed with the Court on February 25, 2015, Clyne visited Tropical Shipping in St. Thomas to pick up a hot water heater and freezer. During a routine inspection, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) canine alerted to the presence of narcotics. CBP officers inspected the containers and discovered a total of 24 kilograms of marijuana hidden inside the appliances.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), CBP and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
St. Croix Man Sentenced for Manufacturing MarijuanaRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – On Thursday, May 26, 2016, Chief Judge Wilma A. Lewis sentenced Raymond Mathurin, 48, to three years of probation, six months of home detention, and a $2000 fine on one count of manufacturing marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to court records, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) officers executed a search warrant on a plot near Estate Two Friends in St. Croix and found 69 marijuana plants that Mathurin admitted to growing.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the VIPD, and was prosecuted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rami Badawy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian H. Stringer.
St. Croix Man Sentenced for Manufacturing MarijuanaRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – On Thursday, May 26, 2016, Chief Judge Wilma A. Lewis sentenced Raymond Mathurin, 48, to three years of probation, six months of home detention, and a $2000 fine on one count of manufacturing marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to court records, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) officers executed a search warrant on a plot near Estate Two Friends in St. Croix and found 69 marijuana plants that Mathurin admitted to growing.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the VIPD, and was prosecuted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rami Badawy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian H. Stringer
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest India National Using a False Document to Enter the United StatesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Chintamkumar Patel, 23, made his initial appearance on Friday, May 20, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in a complaint with using a false document to defraud the United States, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Patel was released pending further proceedings after a detention and preliminary hearings on Monday.
According to the complaint, on May 19, 2016, Patel appeared at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) primary inspection checkpoint at the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and presented a false New York driver’s license. Patel was a ticketed passenger on an American Airlines flight to the mainland United States.
Under federal law, if convicted of using a false document to defraud the United States, Patel faces a maximum of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. This case is being investigated by CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard Potter.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Three Defendants enter Guilty Pleas in Drug Trafficking/Money Laundering ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – On May 16, 2016, Clarence Griffin, 44, of Los Angeles, Robert Brown, 29, of St. Croix, and Jamila Felix, 29, of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty in federal c ourt on St. Thomas, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Griffin and Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute, and Felix pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Sentencing is scheduled for September 15, 2016.
According to the plea agreements filed with the court, between July 2012 and December 2013, Griffin and Brown shipped barrels containing at least 700 kilograms but less than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana concealed in “Chow Mein” cans from Los Angeles to St. Thomas utilizing a trucking service. Felix later deposited the proceeds from the marijuana sales into her bank accounts in St. Thomas, and subsequently wired the proceeds electronically to Griffin and other members of the conspiracy in the mainland United States. Griffin and Brown face a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Both defendants remain in custody pending sentencing. Felix faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $500,000.00, or twice the value of the property involved in her transactions, whichever is greater. Felix remains on release pending sentencing.
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia L. Smith.
St. Thomas Man Charged with Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Anthony Williams, Sr., 47, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, made his initial appearance May 12, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Judge RuthMiller after being charged in a one-count indictment with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Williams was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond, electronic monitoring and a curfew.
According to the Indictment filed on January 14, 2016, Williams was found in possession of a 9mm caliber Taurus pistol on the grounds of the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas campus. He was previously convicted in the District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm during drug trafficking and possession in commerce of a stolen firearm.
Under federal law, if convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Williams faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that an Indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nelson Jones.
Operation Gun Dog Nets 18 FirearmsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Naeem Akil Smith, 24, of St. Thomas, was arrested and charged with the unlawful possession of 18 firearms, including two assault rifles, at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, announced United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe. Smith’s arrest resulted from a joint law enforcement operation named “Operation Gun Dog” conducted by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) led task force during the St. Thomas Carnival season. Smith made his initial appearance in court on May 5, 2016 before District Court Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller. A detention hearing was held on May 6, 2016 for Smith where he was ordered to post a $10,000 unsecured bond. Smith is also required to wear an electronic monitor.
According to the complaint, on April 27, 2016, at the Cyril E. King Airport, a law enforcement K-9 alerted to the presence of firearms inside of luggage checked in Smith’s name. CBP officers examined Smith’s luggage, which revealed one Taurus pistol, 15 Glock pistols, and two AK-47 assault rifles. His luggage also contained two AK-47 magazines, 36 other pistol magazines with capacities ranging from 9 to 15 rounds, 10 speed loaders, twenty .40 caliber Smith and Wesson rounds, and a storage box.
Under federal law if convicted of unlawful possession of firearms, Smith would face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Operation Gun Dog was formed by law enforcement officials from CBP, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Marshals Service, Transportation Security Administration, Virgin Islands Port Authority and Virgin Islands Police Department to interdict contraband travelling through the Cyril E. King Airport and deter criminal activity during the St. Thomas Carnival.
This case is being investigated by HSI and ATF. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia Smith.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Three Men Arrested for Possession with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI- Miguel Rodriguez, 60, of St. Thomas, Estanislao de Jesus, 47, and Tomas Miguel Liriano Castillo, 44, both of the Dominican Republic, were arrested Monday on a criminal complaint charging them with one count each of possession with intent to distribute narcotics, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced today. Rodriguez, de Jesus, and Castillo made their initial appearance in court today before District Court Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller. A detention hearing is set for May 11, 2016 for Rodriguez, and May 12, 2016 for de Jesus and Castillo. A preliminary hearing is set for May 12, 2016 for all three men.
According to the complaint, Castillo came by vessel from Tortola with six kilograms of cocaine. Castillo had made arrangements with de Jesus and Rodriguez to pick him up at Hull Bay. When the boat arrived in Hull Bay, Castillo was seen jumping from the vessel with a backpack while de Jesus and Rodriguez waited for him on shore. When Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agents approached the men, Castillo attempted to throw the backpack under a tree. The bag was searched and six bricks of a white substance were located inside the backpack. The substance field tested positive for cocaine and weighed approximately six kilograms. It was determined that Castillo and de Jesus are in the United States illegally.
Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine carries a sentence of not less than 10 years in prison and up to life.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the DEA, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
Puerto Rico Man Pleads Guilty to Alien SmugglingRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI –On Tuesday, May 3, 2016, Angel De Jesus Marrero, 31, of Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty in District Court on St. Thomas to encouraging and inducing aliens to illegally enter the United States, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on December 22, 2015, Marrero was solicited by his co-defendant, Rodriguez Ramirez, to assist in the passage of five illegal Brazilian nationals through the St. Thomas airport by checking them in at the airline ticket kiosk. Afterward, he was to ensure that the illegal aliens made it to the appropriate gate to depart St. Thomas for New York. Federal agents, however, thwarted the plan before anyone boarded the aircraft and apprehended the defendants along with the illegal aliens. Marrero’s sentencing date has been set for September 1, 2016. Rodriguez Ramirez previously pleaded guilty to bribing a Customs officer and is awaiting sentencing on June 16, 2016.
Marrero faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by Custom and Border Protection Office of Internal Affairs and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte.
St. Croix Man Charged with Threatening Federal EmployeesRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Stephen Williams, 47, made his initial appearance today before U.S.Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being arrested for threatening a federal employee, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Williams was arrested on April 25, 2016, by Special Agents from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General (VA OIG), and officers from the Virgin Islands Police Department. Judge Miller ordered the defendant placed in detention pending a hearing on April 26, 2016. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
According to documents filed with the court, on February 12, 2016, Williams threatened to shoot employees of the Veteran’s Affairs Community Based Out-Patient Clinic at Village Mall #113, Kingshill, St. Croix.
This case is being investigated by the VA OIG. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Stringer.
Dominican Republic National Charged with Alien in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Rolando Torres De La Cruz, 25, was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in an indictment with alien in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. De La Cruz was arrested on April 22, 2016, by Special Agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and officers with the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD). Judge Miller ordered the defendant placed on home detention. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
According to court records, on February 11, 2015, De La Cruz, who is unlawfully present in the United States from the Dominican Republic, transferred a stolen .22 caliber Ruger Rifle to a second man who in turn sold the firearm.
This case was investigated by the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the VIPD. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Stringer.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest Georgia Man Attempting to Smuggle Marijuana to the Virgin IslandsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Keenan Powell-Ryder, 20, of Gainesville, Georgia, made his initial appearance April 20, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in a complaint with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. At a preliminary hearing held today, probable cause was found to arrest Powell-Ryder, who was subsequently released on an appearance bond with numerous conditions of release.
According to the complaint, on April 19, 2016, Powell-Ryder arrived at the Cyril E. King International Airport, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, on board a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta, Georgia. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers approached Powell-Ryder and asked him if he had any checked luggage, which he denied. He was taken to secondary inspection where CBP officers matched luggage containing 14.99 kilograms of marijuana to Powell-Ryder.Under federal law if convicted of possession with intent to distribute 14.99 kilograms of marijuana, Powell-Ryder faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David White.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic Men Convicted by Jury of Drug Conspiracy and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – After a four-day trial, a federal jury found Alexandro Gerandino-Aracena, 39, of the Dominican Republic, and Ricardo Cardona, 35, of Puerto Rico, guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and various firearms possession charges, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced today.
According to evidence presented at trial, on the morning of September 3, 2015, Gerandino-Aracena and Cardona traveled from Fajardo, Puerto Rico, to St. Thomas in a private vessel equipped with a hidden compartment to purchase 150 kilograms of cocaine. Gerandino-Aracena and Cardona docked their vessel at the Marine Center Dock at the University of the Virgin Islands, where they met other members of the drug trafficking organization to collect the cocaine in exchange for $250,000 and three assault rifles. Earlier that day in Puerto Rico, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents seized $1.4 million dollars in cash, which was partial payment for the cocaine. Gerandino-Aracena and Cardona each face a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $10,000,000.
On the fourth day of trial, co-defendant Marco Asala Belgar, 35, of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony and faces a maximum of three years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Co-defendant Pedro Beltre Guzman, 36, of the Dominican Republic, also pleaded guilty during the trial to possession of firearms by an illegal alien and faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.
On March 29, 2016, co-defendant Jose Luis Ponce-Pagan, 36, of Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms of cocaine and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a $10,000,000 fine. All defendants remain in custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for August 24, 2016.
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the DEA, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte and Delia L. Smith.
St. Croix Man Sentenced for Manufacturing MarijuanaRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI –Senior District Court Judge Raymond Finch sentenced today Michael Velez, 36, to three years of probation, six months of electronic monitoring, and a $500 fine on one count of manufacture of marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, Velez admitted that on January 29, 2015, he was the sole resident of property located at 4-0 Catherine’s Rest, St. Croix, where U.S. Drug Enforcement administration (DEA) and Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) officers found 204 marijuana plants while executing a search warrant for the premises. According to court records, they also discovered cultivation equipment, including lights, watering mechanisms, and cloning solution.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the VIPD and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Stringer.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Using a Telephone to Facilitate a Drug TransactionRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Carl Hansen, 55, pleaded guilty today in federal court before the Honorable George W. Cannon to one count of using a communications facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the Controlled Substances Act, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on May 7, 2015, Carl Hansen facilitated a drug deal over the telephone between a prospective buyer and seller of illegal controlled substances.
The defendant faces a maximum of four years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has been set for August 17, 2016. The defendant remains out of custody pending sentencing.
The charge is the result of investigative work of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virgin Islands Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Stringer.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest Pair Attempting to Smuggle Marijuana into the Virgin IslandsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Sierra Wimberly, 25, and Noelle Bishopel, 27, both Atlanta, Georgia residents, made their initial appearances on April 7, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in separate complaints with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Wimberly and Bishopel were both released on unsecured $10,000 bonds pending further proceedings.
According to the complaints, on April 6, 2016, at the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) K-9 detected narcotics in checked bags belonging to Wimberly and Bishopel, who had arrived on a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta. When Wimberly and Bishopel de-planed the aircraft, they were taken to secondary inspection where their checked bags were examined. CBP officers seized and field-tested approximately 4.9 kilograms of marijuana from Wimberly’s bag and approximately 10.25 kilograms of marijuana from Bishopel’s bag.
Under federal law if convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, Wimberly and Bishopel each face a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This case is being investigated by CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard Potter.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest Atlanta Man Attempting to Smuggle Marijuana to the Virgin IslandsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Bert Donadelle, Jr., 25, made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in a complaint with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Donadelle was released on an unsecured $10,000 bond and to the third-party custody of his mother pending further proceedings.
According to the complaint, on Sunday, April 3, 2016, at the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) K-9 detected narcotics in a checked bag belonging to Donadelle, who had arrived on a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta. CBP officers examined the contents of the bag, resealed it, and placed it on the carousel for retrieval. Donadelle retrieved the bag, and a second checked bag bearing his name, from the baggage claim area. CBP officers seized and field tested a total of approximately eight kilograms of marijuana from Donadelle’s bags.
Under federal law if convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, Bailey faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim L. Chisholm.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a Complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
St. Thomas Resident Pleads Guilty to Transporting Minor for SexRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI-Jennifer Bowen-Dodoo, 51, pleaded guilty on Friday, April 1, 2016, in District Court on St. Thomas to one count of transportation of a minor for sex, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced today.
According to the plea agreement, Bowen-Dodoo admitted that she aided and abetted an adult male to transport her minor daughter for the purpose of sexual activity. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez remanded Bowen-Dodoo into the custody of the United States Marshals Service. Sentencing is scheduled for August 4, 2016. Bowen-Dodoo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000.
"Sex trafficking is a deplorable crime, especially when it involves underage victims who are particularly vulnerable," said Ricardo Mayoral, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan and U.S. Virgin Islands. “Prostituting young girls is a growing threat worldwide, and we encourage anyone with information about this activity to call law enforcement. Your call could save a girl from sexual slavery.”
Suspected child exploitation or missing children cases may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children via its toll-free 24–hour hotline at 202-514-5678 or Homeland Security Investigations at (340) 693-2250.
The case was investigated by HSI, the Virgin Islands Police Department, and the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Terminix Companies Agree to Pay $10 Million for Applying Restricted-Use Pesticide to Residences in the U.S. Virgin IslandsRead the Press Release
All TERMINIX Locations Have Ceased Using Pesticides Containing Methyl Bromide in the United States. Employees Illegally Applied Pesticides Containing Methyl Bromide to Residences in St. John, St. Croix, and St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
WASHINGTON – The pest control corporation Terminix International Company LP TERMINIX LP) and its U.S. Virgin Islands operation Terminix International USVI LLC(TERMINIX, USVI), were charged today with multiple violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act for illegally applying fumigants containing methyl bromide in multiple residential locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including the condominium resort complex in St. John where a family of four fell seriously ill last year after the unit below them was fumigated, the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.
In a plea agreement, TERMINIX LP and TERMINIX, USVI agreed to pay a total of $10 million in criminal fines, community service and restitution payments. Except for completing one government contract at the Port of Baltimore, TERMINIX LP has stopped using pesticides containing methyl bromide in the United States and U.S. Territories. Under the agreement TERMINIX, USVI will pay $5 million in fines and $1 million in restitution to the EPA for response and clean-up costs at the St. John resort. TERMINIX LP will pay a fine of $3 million and will fund a $1 million community service project in the U.S.V.I. The plea agreement is subject to approval by the district court.
“When misused, highly toxic pesticides can have catastrophic consequences, and that’s why those who are certified to apply them must do so responsibly and lawfully,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The facts in this case show the Terminix companies knowingly failed to properly manage their pest control operations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, allowing pesticides containing methyl bromide to be applied illegally and exposing a family of four to profoundly debilitating injuries. While on probation the companies are required to demonstrate to the EPA changes to their internal management and systems to ensure this type of tragedy does not reoccur.”
“This prosecution demonstrates the importance of complying with environmental laws and regulations,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe of the District of the Virgin Islands. “Tragically, the defendants' failure to do so resulted in catastrophic injuries to the victims and exposed many others to similar harm. The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to the enforcement of environmental laws and will take all necessary steps to hold those who violate these laws criminally accountable and to protect residents and visitors of the Virgin Islands.”
“When you break a law that protects public health, there are real victims and real consequences, as this case tragically shows,” said Assistant Administrator Cynthia Giles for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This incident illustrates how important it is for EPA to enforce environmental laws and hold anyone accountable for endangering our safety. Today’s charges should send a clear message to the industry, and directs important funds toward training programs to help ensure this can’t happen again.”
In 1984 EPA banned the indoor use of methyl bromide products. The few remaining uses are severely restricted. Pesticides containing methyl bromide in the U.S. are restricted-use due to their acute toxicity, meaning that they must only be applied by a certified applicator. Health effects of acute exposure to methyl bromide are serious and include central nervous system and respiratory system damage. Pesticides can be very toxic and it is critically important that they be used only as approved by EPA.
After the government began its investigation, TERMINIX LP voluntarily ceased its use of methyl bromide in the U.S. and in U.S. territories, except for one remaining supervised government contract.
According to the information filed in federal court in the U.S. District Court of the Virgin Islands today, the defendants knowingly applied restricted-use fumigants at the Sirenusa resort in St. John for the purpose of exterminating household pests on or about Oct. 20, 2014, and on or about March 18, 2015. The companies were also charged with applying the restricted-use pesticide in 12 residential units in St. Croix and one additional unit in St. Thomas between September 2012 and February 2015.
According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, TERMINIX, USVI provided pest control services in the Virgin Islands including fumigation treatments for Powder Post Beetles, a common problem in the islands. These fumigation treatments were referred to as “tape and seal” jobs, meaning that the affected area was to be sealed off from the rest of the structure with plastic sheeting and tape prior to the introduction of the fumigant. Customers were generally told that after a treatment persons could not enter the building for a two to three-day period.
On or about March 18, 2015, two employees of TERMINIX, USVI, performed a
fumigation pesticide treatment at the lower rental unit of Building J at Sirenusa in St. John. The upper unit in Building J was occupied by a Delaware family of four. Via various means, methyl bromide from the lower unit migrated to the upper unit of Building J, causing serious injury to and hospitalization of the entire family.EPA regional staff responded immediately to the incident in St. John, securing the scene, performing testing and addressing the contamination. Within days, the EPA sent out a pesticide use warning to pesticides applicators in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, followed by a broader pesticide notice to regulators in all states, the British Virgin Islands, and to other Caribbean and Latin American countries.
As a special condition of the companies’ three year probation, the defendants shall make good faith efforts to resolve past and future medical expenses for the family through separate civil proceedings. If they do not do so before the end of the probationary period, they would be subject to an order of restitution and the government may petition the District Court to reopen the sentencing proceedings to seek recovery of past and future medical and other expenses.
The $10 million penalty includes $8 million in criminal fines, $1 million in restitution to the EPA for response and clean-up costs, and a $1 million community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the purpose of engaging a third party to provide training to pesticide applicators in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The case was investigated by EPA Criminal Investigation Division working worked cooperatively with the Virgins Islands government and, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Senior Litigation Counsel Howard P. Stewart of the Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim L. Chisholm of the District of the Virgin Islands are prosecuting the case with assistance of Patricia Hick, EPA Region II Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel.
The investigation is ongoing.
For more information about EPA’s pesticide program and its requirements, visit
www.epa.gov/pesticides/.For more information on methyl bromide, visit www.epa.gov/region2/methyl-bromide.pdf
St. Thomas Man Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI - District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced Kasimir Asim McClean, 37, of St. Thomas, on March 28, 2016, to 10 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute approximately four kilograms of marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced today. Judge Gomez also ordered McClean to pay a special assessment of $100 and perform 400 hours of community service.
On November 23, 2015, McClean pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. According to the plea agreement, McClean was arrested on September 26, 2015, when he arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, aboard a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta, Georgia. As part of his plea, McClean admitted that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, with the assistance of a canine, found approximately four kilograms of marijuana in his carry-on luggage.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Puerto Rico Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – On Tuesday, March 29, 2016, Jose Luis Ponce-Pagan, 36, of Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty in federal c ourt on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, be for e the Honorable Curtis V. Gomez to conspi racy to possess cocaine wi th the intent to distribute , United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced today. Sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2016.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, between August 30, 2015, and September 3, 2015, Ponce-Pagan knowingly conspired with other individuals to purchase approximately 100 kilograms of cocaine on St. Thomas for distribution in Puerto Rico. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Ponce-Pagan remains in custody pending sentencing.
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
Atlanta Woman and St. Thomas Man Arrested Attempting to Smuggle Marijuana and Hashish into the Virgin IslandsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI- Daniell Sherre Combs, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia, and C’quan Celestine, 21, of St. Thomas, made their initial appearance on Saturday, March 26, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Ruth Miller after being charged in a complaint with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and hashish, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced today. Combs and Celestine were detained pending preliminary and detention hearings set for March 30, 2016.
According to the complaint, on Friday, March 25, 2016, Combs and Celestine arrived together at the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, on board a Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers approached Combs and Celestine after they had removed their bags from the carousel in the baggage claim area. They were taken to secondary inspection where CBP officers searched their bags and found a large plastic bag of a green leafy substance that tested positive for marijuana, four bottles of oil that tested positive for THC (hashish), 63 grams of hashish, and several baked goods laced with marijuana.
Under federal law if convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana or hashish, Combs and Celestine face a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This case is being investigated by CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Mailing of a FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – On Thursday, March 24, 2016, Shawki Thomas, 25, pleaded
guilty in federal court before the Honorable George W. Cannon to one count of unlawful mailing of a firearm, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.According to the plea agreement filed with the court, between August 1, 2015,
and August 14, 2015, Thomas knowingly caused three firearms to be shipped through the U.S. Mail inside of a large screen television. The television and firearms were shipped from Florida to St. Croix.The defendant faces a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A
sentencing date has been set for July 27, 2016. The defendant remains out of custody pending sentencing.The charges are the result of investigative work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Stringer.
St. Croix Man Sentenced to Nine Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI - District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced on March 17, 2016, Alva Nicholas, 57, to nine months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Judge Gomez also ordered Nicholas to pay a $100 special assessment.
On November 4, 2015, Nicholas pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. According to the plea agreement filed with the court, Nicholas was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, after his arrival on American Airlines flight 2379. Agents were conducting a screening of bags arriving at the airport when they detected an anomaly inside a suitcase bearing Nicholas’s name and flight tag. After further inspection, agents found 3.4 kilograms of marijuana wrapped in plastic inside his suitcase. The bag was then repackaged and placed on the conveyor belt. Nicholas was taken into custody after he collected the suitcase from the conveyor belt. He had previously been convicted of heroin smuggling and sentenced to 10 years’ incarceration.
This case is the result of a joint investigation by HSI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia Smith.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest MichiganWoman Attempting to Smuggle Marijuana to the Virgin IslandsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Deangelia D. Quintana, 30, made her initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in a complaint with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Virgin Islands Area Port Director Louis Harrigan announced. Quintana was detained pending preliminary and detention hearings set for Friday, March 4, 2016.
According to the complaint, on Wednesday March 2, 2016, Quintana arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, on board a Delta flight from Atlanta. CBP officers approached Quintana as she removed two bags from the carousel at the baggage claim area. Quintana was taken to secondary inspection where CBP officers searched her bags and discovered a large bundle of plastic in each bag.Within the plastic, CBP discovered approximately 23 kilos of what was field tested to be marijuana. When questioned, Quintana admitted that the bags were hers.
"CBP officers remain vigilant to detect and seize illegal contraband being illegally brought into our islands," said Port Director Harrigan.
Under federal law if convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, Quintana faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This case is being investigated by CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.