ST. THOMAS — Pedro Negron-Rodriguez, 21, and Emma Mueses-Dilone, 19, both residents of Puerto Rico, have been formally charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine with an intent to distribute. The peer were caught attempting to smuggle cocaine through the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, and were apprehend in the act.
This announcement comes from the United States Attorney, Delia L. Smith.
According to court documents, on September 29, 2023, both individuals were documented as ticketed passengers on a Spirit Airlines flight, which was scheduled to depart from St. Thomas with a destination to Orlando, FL, and a concluding stop in Philadelphia, PA. During a routine inspection conducted by Customs and Border Protection at the Cyril King Airport, eight kilograms of cocaine were discovered within Mueses-Dilone's luggage. Prior to the discovery, Dilone affirmed that she had personally packed the suitcase and acknowledged its ownership. Furthermore, both Negron-Rodriguez and Mueses-Dilone confirmed that they embarked on the journey as travel companions.
Following the charges, United States Magistrate sanctioned the release of Negron-Rodriguez and Mueses-Dilone, setting their bail at $25,000.00 unsecured bonds while awaiting trial. If the court finds them guilty of the charges, they could potentially face a sentence of up to 40 years in prison along with a maximum fine of $5,000,000.
The Department of Homeland Security Investigation, in conjunction with Customs and Border Protection, is leading the inquiry into this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne will oversee the prosecution.
In concluding her statement, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith emphasized that the current charges are based solely on allegations. As per legal protocol, all accused individuals maintain their right to the presumption of innocence until definitively proven guilty in a judicial setting.
Advertisements
