GUILTY PLEA IN FEDERAL COURT: JESUS DEL ROSARIO-RONDON
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CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A Dominican Republic native admitted today that he wanted to get at least 33 pounds of cocaine to do a drug deal in St. Thomas.
Jesus Del Rosario-Rondon, 39, of Santo Domingo pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Curtis Gomez to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 15 but less than 50 kilograms of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert said.
Federal sentencing for Rosario-Rondon is scheduled for October 18, 2018.
The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) conducted a routine traffic stop of an unregistered SUV operated by Jesus Rosario-Rondon. His co-defendant Khadin Fahie was a passenger in the vehicle.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on March 7, 2018, a VIPD detective, during a routine traffic stop, observed that Rosario-Rondon and his passenger appeared very nervous and agitated.
The detective also observed two large duffle bags in the back seat of the SUV, and later asked both occupants if either was the owner of the duffle bags.
Rosario-Rondon and the passenger of the SUV both responded that the duffle bags belonged to the other person.
The VIPD detective then requested and received permission from Rosario-Rondon to search the duffle bags.
Inspection of the duffle bags revealed 39 bricks containing a white powdered substance, wrapped in vacuumed sealed plastic that later tested positive of the presence of cocaine. Also discovered was one empty plastic wrapping that tested positive for cocaine.
The passenger of the SUV later admitted ownership of the cocaine, and stated that he traveled from Tortola to St. Thomas with the cocaine to find a buyer.
The passenger further stated that Rosario-Rondon had assisted him in finding a buyer for the cocaine on St. Thomas.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Virgin Islands
Police Department (VIPD).
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Delia Smith.
CO-CONSPIRATOR: KHADIN FAHIE OF ROAD TOWN, TORTOLA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS