St. Thomas Man Arrested At Airport With 4.4 Pounds Of Marijuana In His Luggage

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Thomas man was arrested after federal authorities found 4,4 pounds of marijuana stashed in his luggage.

Allany Peterson-Mendez, 25, of St. Thomas, was arrested on Friday at the Cyril E. King Airport on criminal charges related to his alleged possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.

According to court documents, Peterson-Mendez flew into the airport on a commercial airline with a green leafy substance contained in his checked luggage.

Peterson-Mendez was escorted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to a secure location for a baggage check, during which officers located two kilograms of marijuana Petersen-Mendez is charged with Possession of Marijuana with intent to distribute.

Peterson-Mendez made his first appearance in U.S. District Court before U.S. Magistrate Judge
Ruth Miller today.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law