Tag: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Puerto Rican Woman With 10 Pounds Of Marijuana For Bartender Gets Probation

CHRISTIANSTED — A Puerto Rican woman who delivered nearly ten pounds of marijuana to a St. Croix bartender aboard a commercial airline was given probation by a federal judge, authorities said. Nathalie Lopez, 32, of San Juan, was sentenced on one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute on board an aircraft, U.S. […]

Puerto Rico Boat Captain Gets 2.5 Years For Smuggling $287,660 Cash Into St. Thomas

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced that Arioc Diaz Melendez, 28, from Puerto Rico, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for concealing $287,660 in U.S. currency while onboard a vessel outfitted for smuggling. According to court documents, Arioc Diaz Melendez was the captain of a vessel that was traveling without […]

St. Croix Man Arrested At Henry Rohlsen Airport With 6.6 Pounds Of Cocaine

FREDERIKSTED — A St. Croix man was arrested with 6.6 pounds of cocaine in his luggage at the Henry Rohlsen Airport on Tuesday, federal authorities said. Kareme Holst of Christiansted was “advised of his rights on criminal charges related to his alleged possession cocaine” on Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. According to court […]

Coast Guard Nabs 2 Smugglers After It Stops Illegal Voyage Near Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN — The Coast Guard returned 10 Haitian migrants to the Dominican Republic between Tuesday and Wednesday, following the interdiction of an illegal voyage in Mona Passage waters near Mona Island. Two other men, Dominican Republic nationals, are facing federal criminal prosecution in Puerto Rico on migrant smuggling charges. The United States Attorney’s Office for the […]

Feds Detain New York Woman On Illinois Fugitive Charges At St. Thomas Airport

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A New York woman was wanted in Chicago was detained by federal officers at the St. Thomas airport on Thursday afternoon, authorities said. Daisy Urena, 33, of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested at 4:30 p.m. Thursday after learning she was a fugitive from justice, the Virgin Islands Police Department said. “Urena, on […]

St. Thomas Man Who Smelled Of Marijuana At Airport Pleads Guilty To Smuggling

CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Thomas man who tried to smuggle 14 pounds of marijuana into St. Croix undetected pleaded guilty to being a drug dealer in federal court today. Jahvar Looby, 31, of St. Thomas, appeared before Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon, Jr., in U.S. District Court and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess marijuana […]

Convicted New Jersey Carjacker Detained By Feds At St. Thomas Airport: VIPD

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A New Jersey man who was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2017 for being the “ringleader” of a “major international carjacking and stolen car trafficking ring” was detained at the St. Thomas airport on Monday morning, authorities said. Kyle W. Champagnie, 34, of Hillside, NJ was arrested at 10:48 a.m. […]

Skylarker Escapes Jail By Promising Judge He’ll Smoke All The Weed He Smuggled

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A Texas man who told federal officials he wasn’t a drug dealer because he planned to smoke nearly 10 pounds of marijuana all by himself was given probation today.. Jaheem Pemberton, 26, a resident of Austin, Texas, was sentenced to two years’ probation for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney […]

Man Who Tried To Smuggle 7.5 Pounds Of Marijuana To St. Thomas Pleads Guilty

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Thomas air traveler pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle about 7.5 pounds of marijuana into the territory on a commercial flight from Atlanta, authorities said. Kharim Moore pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Monday to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. According to […]

Nigerian National Who Claimed To Be U.S. Citizen Arrested By CBP At CEK Airport

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced that a Nigerian national was arrested on June 4, 2021, at the Cyril E. King Airport on criminal charges related to her alleged misrepresentation that she was a United States citizen. According to court documents, Ifeoma Inneh, 40, of Abuja, appeared at the U.S. Customs and […]