A Dominican Republic national, Yeral Marrero Reynoso, 28, pleaded guilty before United States Magistrate G. Alan Teague to cocaine possession with intent to distribute. He faces a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence, with a district judge determining the final sentence based on sentencing guidelines and other factors, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 28, 2024, while patrolling in the Haulover Bay
area of St. John, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine and Border Patrol agents observed two men on the trail heading towards Haulover Bay, one armed with an assault-style long gun. Minutes later, the men were observed carrying three black duffel bags up the trail to the parking area where a gray Acura RDX was parked. The agents, with the assistance of the Virgin Islands Police Department, stopped the vehicle driven by Marrero Reynoso. The passengers, Rivera-Palmer and Marrero Reynoso were the only occupants of the vehicle and matched the description of the two men seen earlier on the trail. As they approached the vehicle, agents observed two assault-style rifles bearing no serial numbers on the rear passenger floorboard. A Glock .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine was also found on the driver-side floorboard of the vehicle. In the rear of the vehicle, agents recovered three duffle bags containing 75 kilograms of cocaine. Both men were illegally present in the United States. Based on their immigration status, Marrero Reynoso and Rivera-Palmer are prohibited from possessing firearms.
