CHRISTIANSTED — An Arizona man who tried to smuggle 24 pounds of marijuana into St. Croix has pleaded guilty in federal court to being a drug dealer, authorities said. Armando Antonio Mena, 29, of Phoenix, pleaded guilty today to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. According to court […]
Tag: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
St. Thomas Man With $800,000 Cash And Machine Gun Gets 1.75 Years In Prison
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A man captured by federal agents with $800,000 cash and a machine gun in a crowded St. Thomas shopping center has been given nearly two years in prison, authorities said. John Burgos was sentenced to 21 months in prison and two years of supervised release for possessing a machine gun in violation […]
St. Thomas Man Pleads Guilty To Smuggling 11 Pounds Of Marijuana
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Thomas man admitted in federal court to smuggling 11 pounds of marijuana into the territory last year, authorities said. Trevon Richards, 31, of Charlotte Amalie, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller and pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana, […]
St. John Man Gets 2 Years In Prison For Transporting Illegal Residents Via Ferry
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. John man was given two years in federal prison for transporting an illegal resident via ferry to St. Thomas, authorities said. Courtney Matthias was sentenced today on his conviction for transporting an illegal alien, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Molloy sentenced Matthias to a […]
Texas Man Tells Feds He’s Not A Marijuana Dealer, He Intended To Smoke All 9.5 Pounds Of Pot Himself
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A Texas man was detained after allegedly trying to smuggle 9.5 pounds of marijuana into St. Thomas that he told authorities he planned to smoke all by himself. A federal criminal complaint has been filed against Lequan Jaheem Pemberton, of Austin, for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. […]
Boat Passenger Pleads Guilty To Smuggling $287,660 On Yola Vessel Into St. Thomas
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A Puerto Rican boat passenger admitted in federal court that participated in a marine mission to smuggle $287,660 into St. Thomas, authorities said. Jose Carlos Diaz Melendez of San Juan appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller in the U.S. District Court and pleaded guilty plea to a charge of concealing U.S. […]
St. Thomas Man Who Had 40 Pounds Of Marijuana In His Luggage Pleads Guilty To Being A Drug Dealer
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A man who had 32 vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana in his luggage at the St. Thomas airport admitted in federal court that he was a drug dealer, authorities said. Sheldon Stuart “Shellz” Isles, 38, of St. Thomas, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller in District Court on Friday and entered a […]
Dominican Woman Faces 55 Years In Prison For Running Sex Ring That Used Illegal Aliens As Prostitutes
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A Dominican Republic woman faces up to 55 years in prison after admitting to running a human trafficking sex ring that pulled illegal women from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela to St. Thomas to perform commercial sex acts on customers, authorities said. Yohanna Gonzalez-McFarlane, 39, of Santo Domingo, appeared before U.S. Magistrate […]
St. Croix Man Faces 5 Years In Prison For Selling Marijuana Out Of His Jeep Near Elementary School
CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix man who used to sell marijuana out of his Jeep near a convenience store in Sion Farm pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal use of a firearm, authorities said. Rakem “Kimby” Hendrickson, 28, of St. Croix, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon, Jr., in U.S. District Court […]
Boat Captain Pleads Guilty to Smuggling $287,660 Cash Into St. Thomas Near Savana Island
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A Puerto Rican boat captain faces 10 years in prison after a guilty plea to attempting to smuggle about $287,000 cash into the territory by boat, authorities said. Arioc Diaz Melendez, of San Juan, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller in the U.S. District Court on St. Thomas and entered a […]