ST. THOMAS -- Deonte Damari Bailey, 24, pleaded guilty on Monday, June 13, 2016, in District Court here to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the plea agreement, on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, Mr. Bailey arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, on board a Delta Airlines flight from New York. Mr. Bailey’s flight had originated in Las Vegas, Nevada. He removed his suitcase from the conveyor belt when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (C.B.P.) Officers conducting routine inspections, along with C.B.P. canine Castro, alerted to the presence of narcotics. Mr. Bailey was escorted to secondary inspection for further investigation.
During secondary inspection, C.B.P. officers discovered a second baggage tag. Officers went to Delta Airlines baggage claim and retrieved a second suitcase belonging to Mr. Bailey. Both suitcases were inspected and each contained approximately 10 kilograms of marijuana. When questioned, Mr. Bailey admitted that he had possession of both bags from the time he packed them until he checked them in with Delta Airlines in Las Vegas.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez permitted Mr. Bailey to remain on release pending his October 12, 2016, sentencing date. He faces a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.
This case was investigated by C.B.P. and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nelson L. Jones.
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