CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix bartender who was a fugitive from justice in the Pacific Northwest of the United States was arrested on drug and gun-related charges on Wednesday, authorities said.
Troy Patterson, 51, of St. Croix, appeared in U.S. District Court in Golden Rock for an initial appearance after his arrest by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agents on drug and guns charges.
Patterson was charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute; possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute; maintaining drug-involved premises; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and fugitive in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.
According to court documents, in the early morning of September 18, 2019, law enforcement agents and officers executed a search warrant at Patterson’s Anna Hope residence.
The search resulted in the seizure of 301 marijuana plants, approximately 117 grams of processed marijuana, approximately 168 grams of cocaine, and a loaded Taurus .38 caliber firearm.
Additionally, Patterson had an active 2004 warrant from Oregon for failing to appear on “Dangerous Drugs” violations.
Patterson said on social media that he is from Seattle, Washington, which is one of the neighboring states to Oregon, where he is also accused of “dangerous” drug crimes.
He posed for a photo with former St. Croix Senator Terrence “Positive” Nelson and former U.S. Vice President and current U.S. Presidential Contender Joe Biden of Delaware at Point Udall in St. Croix this year.
The New Deep End Bar & Restaurant contacted the Virgin Islands Free Press through an intermediary on September 21 and said that Patterson has not worked as a bartender there for at least two years.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD).
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Ortiz.
Shappert said that a criminal complaint 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.
https://www.facebook.com/troy.patterson.739/photos?lst=1025526116%3A100000220665801%3A1569027240
