Armando Antonio Mena, age 29 of Arizona, pleaded guilty Friday in federal court on St. Croix to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert reported.
According to court documents, on May 27, 2020, Mena traveled to St. Croix on a flight that originated in San Francisco, California. On that flight, he transported checked luggage containing 22 individually wrapped vacuum sealed bags that contained approximately 10 kilograms of marijuana, the amount and packaging being consistent with drug distribution.
Mena faces up to five years’ incarceration and a fine of as much as $250,000. A sentencing date has been set for June 9.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz.
