CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A federal grand jury decided that a British Virgin Islands native must stand trial for allegedly bringing 11 pounds of cocaine by ferry boat to the territory. A federal Grand Jury today returned an indictment against Shane C. Freeman, 32, of Road Town, Tortola charging him with importing cocaine into the United […]
Tag: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
BVI Native Gets 10 Years In Prison For Hiding 22 Pounds of Cocaine In Beer Coolers
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A British Virgin Islands native was given 10 years in prison by a federal judge today for smuggling 22 pounds of cocaine through the airport in St. Thomas. Ashley Warner, 54, of Road Town, Tortola, was handed that sentence by U.S. District Court Judge Curtis Gomez for conspiracy and possession of cocaine […]
Dominican Who Tried To Sneak In On St. John Under Cover of Darkness Gets 45 Days
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A Dominican Republic native got 1.5 months in prison for entering the United States illegally here. Juan Lorenzo Matias Peralta, 38, of Santo Domingo was sentenced today 45 days for illegal entry, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller also ordered Peralta to pay a $10 special assessment, according to Shappert. […]
St. Croix’s Carlyle Ham Fooled Into Thinking Federal Agents Were 14-Year-Old Boy
CHRISTIANSTED – Federal agents posing as a fictional 14-year-old boy stung a 63-year-old St. Croix man as a would-be pedophile. United States Attorney Gretchen C. F. Shappert said today that Carlyle Ham pleaded guilty this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon, Jr. to attempted coercion and enticement for illegal sexual activity involving a minor. […]
St. John Man and Native of Dominican Republic Admit To Smuggling Illegal Aliens Here
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A St. John man and a native of the Dominican Republic admitted in federal court that they tried to smuggle illegal aliens into the territory, authorities said. Brice Todman, 36, of Cruz Bay, and Jose Alfredo Rondon Castro, 40, of the Santo Domingo, each pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge […]
St. Thomas Man Faces Life In Prison For Trying To Move 50 Pounds of Cocaine To Atlanta
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A St. Thomas man who admitted in federal court that he tried to move 50 pounds of cocaine to Atlanta on a commercial flight faces a possible life sentence, authorities said. Shahime “Prettyboyswagg” Ludvig, Jr., 20, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Curtis Gomez to possession with the intent to […]
Dominican Republic and Venezuelan Illegals Admit To Coming To USVI Illegally
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A native of the Dominican Republic and a native of Venezuela admitted in federal court that they came to the United States illegally. Juan Lorenzo Matias Peralta, 38, of Santo Domingo and Dionis Alexander Luis Gomez, 31, of Caracas, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Magistrate Court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller to […]
St. Thomas’ Osvaldo Tavarez Admits In Federal Court To Sex With 13-Year-Old Girl
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A St. Thomas man admitted in federal court that he took a 13-year-old girl out his household to have sex with her. Osvaldo Tavarez, 48, of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court before Judge Curtis Gomez, to one count of transporting a minor for illegal sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Gretchen […]
St. John’s Brice Todman Arrested Monday Allegedly Smuggling Four Illegals Into USVI
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A St. John man was charged Monday by federal authorities with trying to smuggle four illegal migrants into the territory. Brice Todman, 36, of St. John, was arrested Monday on a criminal complaint charging him with bringing aliens into the United States, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. Jose Alfredo Rondon Castro, 40 […]
Police ICE, HSI Seize 2,325 Pounds of Cocaine Worth $30 Million Off Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), working jointly with the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF) partners, seized 2,325 pounds of cocaine Oct. 13, from a go-fast vessel near Las Paulinas Beach in the municipality of Luquillo. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $29.6 million. “HSI is […]