ST. CROIX — A sting operation in Christiansted this past September has resulted in one man being arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and prescription medication with intent to distribute, according to court documents.
On September 26, two undercover DEA agents say they met with Elias Velasquez Jr. and arranged to buy some cocaine later that night. Just after 9 p.m., the agents completed the purchase at the Mill on Strand Street. They reportedly paid $200 for approximately 3.7 grams of a substance that later field tested positive for cocaine.
The next evening, the two undercover agents returned to the scene, met Velasquez and reportedly purchased four oxycodone pills and four pills of tramadol, both controlled substances. The eight pills cost $120, and the transaction was made using “serialized DEA funds,” according to the indictment.
An undercover agent met up with Velasquez again on November 22, this time at Rum Runners on Queen Cross Street. The agent allegedly purchased 3.5 grams of cocaine for $220, and made arrangements to buy four more grams later that evening.
On this and previous occasions, agents surveilling Velasquez reportedly observed him meeting up with other yet-to-be-identified men before returning to the point of sale.
Velasquez reportedly made the second sale to the undercover agent on November 22 at around 7:36 p.m., handing over approximately 4.2 grams of cocaine for $600. After this transaction he was arrested, and the money used from the sale seized from his girlfriend.
Velasquez was charged with three counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and one count each of possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute, and possession of tramadol with intent to distribute.
He made an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Alan Teague on November 25, who ordered an unsecured bond of $25,000 to secure Velasquez's release ahead of trial. On December 20, U.S. Magistrate Emile Henderson III scheduled Mr. Velasquez's arraignment for December 23, 2025.
