CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix man heard federal charges that he is a drug dealer.

Keithley Parris, 32, of St. Croix, appeared in federal court for the first time after his arrest Thursday by Homeland Security Investigations special agents on the charges of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.

Parris was originally charged by indictment on September 17. But that indictment was sealed until his arrest on November 21. At the initial appearance, the United States moved to hold Parris in custody until trial.

A detention hearing and arraignment is set for today before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon.

The case was investigated by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel H. Huston and Melissa Ortiz.

Shappert said that a criminal 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.