Feb. 24, 2009 — Eight people were arrested and guns, cash and marijuana were seized when police raided several St. Croix neighborhoods Tuesday morning.
About 70 law-enforcement officers from the Investigation Bureau, Police Special Response Team, Bike Patrol, Marine Unit, Project Safe Neighborhood and Immigration and Customs Enforcement descended on 11 residences in Williams Delight, Estate Castle Burke and Clifton Hill in the pre-dawn raid.
They confiscated three guns — a 9mm, a .22 magnum Smith and Wesson, and a .38 caliber, as well as a non-firing replica pistol — along with more than 50 packaged "dime" bags of marijuana and more than $800 in cash.
Seven men and one woman were arrested in the raid. Their names, ages, residences and the charges they face are:
— Hector Lima, 23, of Williams Delight, charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute;
— Omar E. Corcino, 23, of Williams Delight, charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm;
— Misael Lima Coto, 20, of Williams Delight, charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute;
— Maria Princess Hill, 19, of Cane Carlton, charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute;
— Francisco Antonio Budhoo, also known as "Kiko," 28, of the John F. Kennedy housing community, charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and cultivating a controlled substance;
— Luis Angel Navarro, 30, of Marley housing community, charged with possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance;
— Domingo Erate, also known as "Macho," 26, of Williams Delight, charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm; and
— Anthony Erate, 22, of Williams Delight, charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm.
All eight suspects were unable to post bail of $25,000 and were lodged in Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility.
Police Chief Oakland Benta congratulated the officers who participated in the operation and said the department intends to "keep the pressure up" on the criminal element.
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