Crime

Deported Immigrants Intercepted Two Days in a Row at St. Thomas Airport, Now Facing Felony Charges

ST. THOMAS — Two men deported from the United States earlier this year were arrested at the Cyril E. King Airport two days in a row. They now face felony charges in district court. According to court documents, first, Customs and Border protection officials intercepted Carlos Adrian Verdugo-Castro during primary inspection on October 27, ahead of his United Airlines flight from St. Thomas to Newark, New Jersey.  After he was escorted to the secondary inspection area, Verdugo reportedly told officials that he had been deported from the U.S. on May 30, and repatriated to his home county of Ecuador. He reportedly left again on September 22, heading first to Panama and then Sint Maarten.  From Sint Maarten, Verdugo told authorities he boarded a boat with other illegal immigrants and headed to St. John. For the trip, he says he paid $2000 to help with the purchase of the boat.  Official records confirmed Verdugo's nationality, and also confirmed that he had been deported from the United...