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ST. THOMAS — United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that Jehiel Peña-Estrada pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine yesterday in federal court.
According to court documents filed in the case, on the evening of September 16, 2019, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Caribbean Air and Marine Operations (CAMOC) began tracking a vessel travelling from the Maternillo area of Puerto Rico towards St. Thomas. The CPB Air and Marine (AMO) unit from St. Thomas located the vessel near the western portion of St. Thomas and followed it into the Crown Bay Marina. CMO agents detained two persons aboard the vessel, including Jehiel Peña-Estrada, later identified as the boat’s captain. The agents conducted a search of the defendant and located approximately $3,840.00 in cash and two baggies containing a white powdery substance later confirmed to contain approximately 15.7 grams of cocaine, a schedule II, narcotic controlled substance.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Juan Albino. The defendant will be sentenced at a later date.
