Shawn A. Callwood, 36, of St. Thomas, and four Dominican nationals, appeared appeared Thursday before U.S. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez on charges of alien smuggling and illegal reentry into the United States, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
Along with Callwood, the defendants are Glenys Gruz-Calcano, 28; Anyi Paola Calcano, 19; Luis Alberto Pimentel Gautier, 42; and Rafael Morales- Osoria, 35.
According to the complaint, on May 9, Marine Interdiction Agents of the Air and Marine Operations intercepted Callwood’s vessel in U.S. territorial waters near St. John. Callwood failed to yield to both lights and sirens directing him to stop, and a warning shot was fired across the bow of Callwood’s vessel.
Five undocumented illegal aliens, including Gruz-Calcano, Calcano, Gautier and Morales-Osoria were discovered on board when the vessel came to a stop. Gautier and Morales-Osoria both have been previously deported from the United States pursuant to felony convictions.
Callwood is facing as much as 10 years in prison for smuggling illegal aliens into the United States. Luis Alberto Pimentel Gautier and Rafael Morales-Osoria both face up to 20 years in prison for illegal reentry by an aggravated felon.
According to Shappert, the case is being investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna A. Vlasova.
