76.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsPolice & CourtsTwo Plead Guilty to Trying to Smuggle Cash into St. Thomas

Two Plead Guilty to Trying to Smuggle Cash into St. Thomas

Two men pleaded guilty Thursday to attempting to smuggle more than $1 million into St. Thomas by boat, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.

Jose Ernesto Vazquez Colon and Abnel Belordo Colon pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Thomas.

According to court documents filed in the case, late in the evening of Sept. 20, Customs and Border Protection Marine Unit agents noticed a boat traveling without navigational lights about three miles north of Savana Island. When CBP attempted to initiate a stop, the two individuals on the boat began throwing bags overboard, and these were later found to contain more than $1 million in cash.

After CBP agents disabled the boat’s motor they boarded and found, in addition to the two defendants, multiple dumbbells with ropes attached. According to the affidavit filed in the case, these are often used to ensure that any contraband materials thrown overboard will sink to the bottom, so that they can be picked up later using GPS.

This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Sleeper and Nathan Brooks.

The defendants’s sentencing date was not scheduled.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.