CHRISTIANSTED — A Trinidad and Tobago national admitted in federal court that he illegally snuck back into the United States in St. Croix — after being previously deported for a money laundering conviction. Christopher Alfred, 45, of Frederiksted pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Golden Rock to re-entry of removed alien, U.S. Attorney Gretchen […]
Tag: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
‘Crouching In Fear,’ St. Thomas Man Relents To Federal Authorities with $800,000 Cash: USAO
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Thomas man crouched in fear behind a parked van in Estate Tutu on St. Thomas Monday. When he was arrested by federal authorities, he had $800,000 cash on him and a machine pistol that could fire 30 rounds at a time. John Michael Burgos, 20, of St. Thomas, appeared on Thursday […]
When St. Croix’s Ivan James ‘Went Cowboy’ In Drug Operation He Exposed Whole Crew To Feds Scrutiny: USAO
CHARLOTTE AMALIE –– A St. Croix female airport employee and four men heard the formal reading of the drug trafficking conspiracy charges against them in federal court six days ago, authorities said. Ivan James, Kai James, Joh Williams, Malachi Benjamin and Tillisa Caesar appeared on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for arraignment on […]
V.I. Agriculture Department Employee Damian Lang Arrested By Feds For Mailing Cocaine To South Carolina
CHRISTIANSTED — Damian Lang, a convicted felon and Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture employee, was arrested on federal drug charges Tuesday. Lang, 41, of St. Croix, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said today. According to court documents, Lang, who is a quality control officer […]
Deported Indian National Re-Enters U.S. Virgin Islands Illegally Again: USAO
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Keyur Hirenbhai Patel, a citizen of India, was charged with illegally reentering the United States, authorities said. Keyur Hirenbhai Patel made his initial appearances before U.S. District Judge Curtis Gomez on Thursday. After preliminary and detention hearings on Friday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller ordered Keyur Hirenbhai Patel detained. The complaint alleges […]
BVI Native Charged With Destroying Cell Phone To Impede Investigation
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Juwon Cordelle Potter, a citizen of the British Virgin Islands, was charged with destroying a record or tangible object with the intent to impede a federal investigation and with knowingly and willfully entering the United States at a time and place other than as designated by Immigration Officers. Juwon Cordelle Potter made […]
St. Croix Man Who Supplied 50 Pounds Of Cocaine To Airport Mule Faces 10 Years
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Croix man can expect a minimum 10-year prison term after admitting in federal court to supplying a drug mule with at least 50 pounds of cocaine at the St. Thomas airport, authorities said. Jakwaan Sweeney, Jr., 21, of St. Croix, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. […]
Culebra Boat Captain Gets Six Months In Prison, Loses His Boat For Smuggling Illegal Aliens
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A Puerto Rican boat captain was sentenced to a half year in prison and will lose his boat after he knowingly transporting illegal aliens for “commercial advantage or private financial gain,” authorities said. Arturo Serrano-Arizmendi, 27, of Culebra, Puerto Rico, was sentenced Thursday after being convicted of knowingly transporting illegal aliens for […]
Florida Contractor Gets 1.16 Years In Jail For Stealing $800,000 In Disaster Funds
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The owner of a Puerto Rico-based construction company who fraudulently obtained about $800,000 in disaster relief funds intended to help the territory rebuild after the 2017 hurricanes has been sentenced to 1.16 years in prison. Juli Campbell of Florida was sentenced to 14 months in prison for fraud related to FEMA’s Sheltering […]
Convicted Felon Gets 4.8 Years In Prison For Trying To Hide Gun In Tools Shipment
CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix convicted felon who tried to hide the shipment of a machine pistol, magazines and ammunition to himself by mixing them in to a shipment of tools was given 4.833 years in prison by a federal judge. William Payne, 39, of St. Croix, was sentenced on January 9 in U.S. District […]