CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A Dominican Republic native who was deported from the United States last year for drug trafficking got 1.75 years in prison from a federal judge for trying to sneak into the territory in May. Victor Gonzalez Rodriquez, 35, of Santo Domingo, was sentenced on Wednesday in U.S. District Court for illegally re-entering […]
Category: U.S. Department of Justice
Two Men Who Brought $88,000 Cash From BVI Charged With Making False Statements
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A BVI native and a Florida man who allegedly brought a combined $88,000 to the territory in their luggage from the BVI were charged with two federal crimes in St. Thomas today. A federal Grand Jury today returned separate indictments against Mikiel Robin, 21, of Road Town, Tortola and Akil Erickson, 25, […]
BVI Native Gets 10 Years In Prison For Hiding 22 Pounds of Cocaine In Beer Coolers
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A British Virgin Islands native was given 10 years in prison by a federal judge today for smuggling 22 pounds of cocaine through the airport in St. Thomas. Ashley Warner, 54, of Road Town, Tortola, was handed that sentence by U.S. District Court Judge Curtis Gomez for conspiracy and possession of cocaine […]
‘Grandpa Guyana Coke Dealers’ Move $71 Million Worth of Cocaine Through Caribbean
CHRISTIANSTED – Four mostly elderly Guyanese men admitted in federal court that they tried to smuggle 8,300 pounds of cocaine into the Caribbean. Mohamed Hoseain, 70, and Richard La Cruz, 51, each of Georgetown, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Golden Rock to possession of cocaine on board a vessel, U.S. Attorney […]
Dominican Who Tried To Sneak In On St. John Under Cover of Darkness Gets 45 Days
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A Dominican Republic native got 1.5 months in prison for entering the United States illegally here. Juan Lorenzo Matias Peralta, 38, of Santo Domingo was sentenced today 45 days for illegal entry, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller also ordered Peralta to pay a $10 special assessment, according to Shappert. […]
Pennsylvania Man Michael Leonard Gets 3 Years For Concealing Crime He Didn’t Commit
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A Pennsylvania man was given three years in prison for concealing a federal crime he knew someone else committed. Michael Leonard, 21, of Philadelphia was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for misprision of a felony consecutive to the sentenced Leonard is already serving for his violation of supervision, announced U.S. […]
Feds Offer ‘Bomb Prevention’ Course In A Territory Where We’ve Never Had A Threat
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said today that a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Bombing Prevention Awareness Course (BPAC) will be offered two days next week at the VITEMA offices on St. Thomas. On December 5 and 6, the courses will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, Shappert said. “The BPAC […]
POLICE STATE: U.S. Attorney Says Local Cops Must Wear A Body Camera From Now On
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said today that the Virgin Islands Police Department is the recipient of $300,000 as part of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program. DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded more than $12.2 million to 75 law enforcement agencies to support implementation and expansion […]
St. Thomas’ Michael Hendrickson Found Guilty of Possessing A Cell Phone In Prison
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – United States Attorney Gretchen C. F. Shappert said that a federal jury handed down a guilty verdict against Michael Hendrickson 28, for possession of prison contraband on Wednesday, following a one-day trial. “Contraband cell phones in correctional facilities create a security threat for correctional officers, others prisoners, and potential witnesses,” Shappert said. […]
Sergio Quinones-Davila Gets 23 Years For Heading Up Cocaine Trafficking Organization
CONVICTED! Sergio Quinones-Davila of Florida must serve 23 years in prison by order of a federal judge. CHRISTIANSTED – A Florida man was handed a 23-year prison sentence by a federal judge who said that he was the “organizer” of Venenuela to Virgin Islands cocaine trafficking operation. U.S. District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis, on […]