Two Charged With Attempting To Smuggle Hashish and Marijuana Appear In Court

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A Georgia woman and a St. Thomian were charged in federal court with attempting to smuggle hashish and marijuana into the territory, according to authorities.
Daniell Sherre Combs, 31, of Atlanta 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 with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and hashish, U.S. Attorney Ronald Sharpe said.
Combs and Celestine were detained pending preliminary and detention hearings set for today.
According to the complaint, on Friday, March 25, Combs and Celestine arrived together at the Cyril E. King International Airport on St. Thomas aboard 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.
The 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.
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