ST. THOMAS — Five individuals have been charged following a successful undercover operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Virgin Islands Police Department, U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Thursday.
The accused, identified as Jamil Bell, 43; Peter Francis, 33; Niah Henry, 44; Anwar Lockhart, 41; and Kenson Plasimo, 43, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the trafficking of cocaine and oxycodone pills. The undercover operations that led to these charges took place between December 5 and December 7, 2023, in the Red Hook area of St. Thomas.
The operation involved DEA agents and local police officers, who used an undercover agent to facilitate the purchase of the illegal substances from the defendants.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cherrisse R. Woods and Kimberly M. Riley. While the charges mark a critical step in legal proceedings, U.S. Attorney Smith emphasized that an indictment is merely a formal accusation. She reminded the public that all individuals charged are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The defendants now await further legal proceedings.
