Cyril E. King Airport
ST. THOMAS — Juan Marrero, also known as “Juan Marrero-Sanchez”, age 24, appeared Monday before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for advise of rights on cocaine conspiracy charges filed in Tampa, FL, Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced Tuesday. Marrero was arrested on Saturday at the Cyril E. King Airport as he attempted to board his JetBlue flight to San Juan, PR. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Miller detained Marrero pending further proceedings.
According to court documents, Marrero, along with eight co-conspirators, were indicted on September 6 in the Middle District of Florida with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. The charge stems from the seizure of a U.S. Postal package in April 2018 that was addressed to Marrero, and destined for the address located at 4028 Falkenburg Road in Tampa, FL. A search of the postal package revealed that it contained two kilograms of cocaine. Following the seizure of the package, agents conducted a search in the Florida DMV and discovered that Marrerro had a Florida driver’s license with the same listed address of 4028 N. Falkenburg Road. Agents subsequently seized four additional U.S. Postal packages containing a total of 12 kilograms of cocaine that were tied to Marrerro.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia L. Smith.
United States Attorney Shappert reminded the public that an information is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
