Ery Rivera-Palmer, 39, and Yeral Marrero Reynoso, 28, both citizens of the Dominican Republican, were detained pending trial by Magistrate Judge G. Alan Teague following their arrests on conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of firearms by a prohibited person, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today.
According to court documents, on Wednesday, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations and Border Patrol agents discovered Rivera-Palmer and Marrero Reynoso walking down the Haulover Bay trail heading towards the beach, one armed with an assault-style long gun. Minutes later, Rivera-Palmer and Marrero Reynoso were observed traveling up the trail carrying three black duffel bags. A gray Acura RDX was then seen leaving the area. The agents, with the assistance of the Virgin Islands Police Department, located the Acura RDX which was driven by Marrero Reynoso with Rivera-Palmer as the passenger. As agents approached the vehicle, they observed two assault-style rifles in the rear passenger floorboard. A third firearm, a Glock .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine, was found on the driver-side floorboard. Neither of the two assault-style rifles had serial numbers. In the rear of the vehicle, agents recovered three duffle bags containing 61 brick-shaped packages containing approximately 75 kilograms of cocaine. Both men were illegally present in the United States which prohibits them from possessing firearms.
