Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas USVI. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM
ST. THOMAS — Shakari Francis, a 27-year-old former employee of Cape Air from St. Thomas, has pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Wednesday.
Francis confessed his guilt before Chief District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy. The gravity of his crimes could land him a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a hefty fine of up to $1,000,000.00.
Court documents reveal that Francis used his employment at Cape Air, where he worked as a ramp agent, to facilitate his illicit activities. On January 11, 2023, he used his secured access to enter the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas with two bricks of cocaine.
He later rendezvoused with Ahkoy Smith, a passenger booked on a Spirit Airline flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The duo met in the restroom next to the concession area of the airport where Francis handed over the cocaine to Smith.
Federal agents, however, apprehended Francis before he could leave the airport. When they attempted to arrest Smith during his boarding process, he threw his backpack onto the tarmac and ran onto the active runway. The agents quickly apprehended him as well. He was subsequently arrested and charged with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. Smith later entered a plea agreement with the United States, changing his plea from not guilty to guilty.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and is currently being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter. This prosecution is part of a larger investigation led by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).
The OCDETF is dedicated to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States. The prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency operation leverages the collective strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat criminal networks.
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