CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A California man admitted in federal court to trying to smuggle 4.4 pounds of marijuana into the territory.
Kelley “Slim” Hansen, 28, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in U.S. District Court before U.S. District Court Judge Curtis Gomez, to possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.
According to court documents, after communicating with a person about the sale of marijuana, Hansen agreed to travel to St. Thomas from California to complete the sale.
Hansen arrived on St. Thomas on board a commercial airline and was found in possession of about two kilograms of marijuana.
Hansen faces a sentence of not more than five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.00.
His sentencing is scheduled for June 21, 2018.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte.