CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A St. Thomas man faces 22 years in prison if convicted on marijuana smuggling and illegal gun charges.
Le’Quan Registe, 24, of St. Thomas was arrested on an indictment charging him with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.
Registe made his initial appearance before Superior Court Judge Denise Francois on Wednesday and was detained pending further proceedings.
According to the indictment, on May 18, 2018, Registe was found in possession of marijuana for distribution and he was also in possession of an unlicensed firearm.
If convicted of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, Registe faces a statutory term of imprisonment up to five years and a $250,000 fine.
If convicted on the possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, Registe faces a consecutive seven-year term of imprisonment. If convicted of the gun charge, he could get 15 years in prison.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated this case.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte.
Shappert said that an indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not in and of itself evidence of guilt.
“Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty,” she said.
