CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A St. Thomas man went to trial and was convicted of being a marijuana dealer.
Le’Quan Registe, 25, of St. Thomas, was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute marijuana after a jury trial in U.S. District Court, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.
The jury trial lasted one day, commencing on April 29, 2019, with jury deliberations commencing and concluding on April 30, 2019.
Registe was acquitted of an additional charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of marijuana distribution.
According to trial testimony, on May 18, 2018, during a search of Registe’s vehicle, Virgin Islands Police Department officers located quantities of marijuana on the gear shift, on top of and underneath the front passenger seat, as well as in a backpack located on the backseat.
Police also located in the car $3,400 in a hidden compartment of the steering wheel, a police scanner, baggies, a digital scale, and a firearm.
After trial, Registe was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
Sentencing is set for August 29.
This case was investigated by the U.S Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD).
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Edwards and George Andrew Massucco LaTaif .