CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Thomas man has pleaded guilty to smuggling illegal aliens into the territory for profit, according to federal authorities.
Steven Lewis, 57, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Tuesday to one count of aiding and abetting the harboring of illegal aliens, Acting U.S. Attorney Joycelyn Hewlett said.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, Lewis admitted that from December 2015, until January, 2016, he aided and abetted others in transporting and harboring at least four Indian nationals who entered St. Thomas illegally from the British Virgin Islands.
Lewis illegally transported the Indian nationals and hid them in a residence on St. Thomas.
Lewis sought to benefit financially from his illegal activities.
Lewis faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has been set for March 1, 2018.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Everard Potter.