Prosecutors allege Angelo Hill, the acting head of St. John police operations arrested Friday for cocaine smuggling, supplied Department of Planning and Natural Resources Chief of Enforcement Roberto Tapia with the cocaine Tapia was arrested with May 19, according to court documents.
Hill and Tapia were both relieved of their duties after their arrests, pending trial.
Tapia, Hill and two residents of Puerto Rico, Stephen Torres and Eddie Lopez, have all been arrested in relation to the same transaction, in which Tapia allegedly received 7.72 kilos (17 pounds) of cocaine.
According to an affidavit from FBI Agent Jason Purkey, filed May 24, federal agents recorded several phone calls between Hill and Tapia, making plans to meet and talking about the cocaine transaction.
"During that conversation Tapia advised that he had to travel to what the agent believed was St. John to meet with ‘Angelo’ to pick up what agents believe was kilograms of cocaine," Purkey wrote.
"Tapia spoke with a person agents identified as Angelo Hill and asked if he (Tapia) could pick up ‘seven of those girls.’ Hill acknowledged that they would be available," Purkey wrote, clarifying that the "girls" were kilos of cocaine.
Purkey’s affidavit appears to indicate that federal agents listened in on Tapia and Hill arranging the transaction, but did not witness the cocaine being transferred.
It alleges Tapia took a DPNR boat, while wearing his law enforcement uniform, and met Torres and Lopez near Sail Rock, about three miles from St. Thomas, and picked up cash to purchase the cocaine.
Tapia then arranged to meet Hill. Hill told Tapia to walk towards First Bank to meet him; officers lost sight of Tapia briefly, but observed a vehicle assigned to Hill.
When officers again sighted Tapia, a backpack he had with him appeared to be carrying "significantly more." Agents then approached Tapia and found the cocaine in the bag he was carrying, according to the affidavit.
