John McCarthy
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A former Plaza Extra cashier was arrested for attempting to bring 167 pounds of marijuana to the territory on Wednesday, authorities said.
Idesha Patricia Sterrod was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C. F. Shappert said.
According to court records, Sterrod arrived at the Cyril E. King airport from Miami on Wednesday. She was traveling with three minor females, ages 12, 14, and 15, who are “not related to her.”
While conducting an inspection of the checked luggage, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drug-sniffing dog alerted to the scent of narcotics on a suitcase belonging to Sterrod.
The suitcase, along with several others, contained approximately 76 kilograms (167.55 pounds) of marijuana.
A detention hearing for Sterrod will be held before the U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Ruth Miller tomorrow.
According to Linkedin, Sterrod was a cashier at Plaza Extra Supermarket from 2003 to 2007.
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.
The case is being investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD).
