ST. CROIX — A federal jury has convicted a St. Croix man of maintaining a drug-involved premise after testimony showed his residence was used for long-term marijuana cultivation, culminating in the seizure of more than 100 plants from the property.
The verdict was announced by United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands, which confirmed that on January 14, a federal jury found Mikey Luke, 52, guilty of maintaining a drug-involved premise. The announcement was made Tuesday by U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper.
The conviction stems from a September 28, 2021, response by officers with the Virgin Islands Police Department to a call in the Anna’s Hope area of Christiansted. According to trial testimony, officers observed marijuana plants outside the residence as they arrived on scene.
A subsequent search of the property revealed marijuana plants throughout a studio apartment inside the residence. Testimony described the space as outfitted with multiple fans, air-conditioning vents, strings, and lights designed to support cultivation. Additional marijuana plants were located across the property, with officers observing plants at various stages of growth, ranging from seedlings to mature plants.
Law enforcement also testified that the residence contained pots, soil, and gardening equipment consistent with marijuana cultivation. In total, authorities seized 138 marijuana plants from the property.
During an interview with law enforcement officers, Luke admitted that he owned the residence and that the marijuana plants belonged to him. He also acknowledged that he had been growing marijuana plants for more than 10 years, according to the evidence presented at trial.
The offense of maintaining a drug-involved premise carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine Luke’s sentence at a later date after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors outlined in federal law.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Baker of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.
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