SAN JUAN — The U.S. Coast Guard returned 74 Dominican migrants to law enforcement authorities in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Tuesday night following the at-sea interdictions of four migrant vessels off Puerto Rico. The interdictions were a result of ongoing efforts in support of Operation Unified Resolve, Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency […]
Category: U.S. Department of Justice
Three Dominican Republic Natives Charged With Smuggling $30M Worth of Cocaine Here
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – Three natives of the Dominican Republic appeared in federal court over the weekend to hear charges that they tried to smuggle $30 million worth of cocaine into the region. Edwin Vargas, 31, Dany Perez-Brito, 44, and Lenin Cornelio-Perez, 32, all of Santo Domingo, were charged with conspiracy to possess and possession of […]
U.S. Coast Guard Nets $30M Worth of Cocaine, Three Smugglers Off St. Thomas
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — United States Coast Guard and Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) crews seized $30 million worth of cocaine and apprehended three smugglers this week, authorities said. The Coast Guard said it seized an estimated 2,606 pounds of cocaine during an exercise in international waters off the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Tuesday […]
Puerto Ricans Feel Federal Government Ambushed Them With Cockfighting Ban
SAN JUAN — Thursday was a somber day at the Cockfighting Club of San Juan. The rows and rows of cubbies that usually house up to 80 roosters waiting to fight were mostly empty. On this day, only 26 birds were on display. Miguel Ortiz, a regular at the club since it opened in 1954, […]
Dominican Republic Native Gets 7.25 Years For Taking 110 Pounds Coke on Barge
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A Dominican Republic native was given 7.25 years in prison by a federal judge for smuggling 110 pounds of cocaine in the territory. Reynaldo Lerburds, 41, of Santo Domingo, was sentenced today before U.S. District Court Judge Curtis Gomez to conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. Judge Gomez sentenced Lerburds to […]
Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico Express Outrage Over Possible Cockfighting Ban
SAN JUAN — Congress on Wednesday gave final passage to legislation that would shut down legal cockfights in U.S. territories including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, ending an institution dating from the colonial era that generates millions of dollars each year. Opponents of the measure approved by the House said it will have […]
Dominica Native Lester Charles Gets Two Years On Federal Gun Charge
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A native of Dominica was given two years in prison by a federal judge for being an illegal migrant with a gun. Lester Charles, 36, of Roseau, was sentenced today after having pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. U.S. District […]
Two South American Men Get Seven Weeks In Prison For Illegal Entry
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – Two South American men were given just over seven weeks in prison for coming to the United States illegally. Dionis Luiz Gomez, 31, of Venezuela and Roman Perez Hernandez, 34, of Argentina were sentenced today to 52 days for illegal entry, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller […]
U.S. Attorney’s Office Sponsors Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Training for VI and PR
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F Shappert said today that the Virgin Islands U.S.Attorney’s Office is sponsoring training this week for prosecutors from the USVI and Puerto Rico and federal agents here in the territory who are dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of large-scale narcotics and organized crime targets. “The Organized Crime Drug […]
Federal and Local Law Enforcement Present At Project Safe Neighborhoods
KANSAS CITY — Three seasoned Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) officers and U.S Attorney Gretchen C.F.Shappert represented the territory at last week’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) National Conference in Missouri. The Conference brought together federal prosecutors andtheir law enforcement partners from across the nation and included speeches by President DonaldTrump, Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, […]