St. Thomas, USVI- Reinaldo Morone, 44, and Walid John, 37, both of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, made their initial appearance in court on Oct. 21, 2016, before District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez on a criminal complaint charging them with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe. The defendants were released on $10,000 unsecured bonds and to third-party custodians, and were placed on electronic monitoring pending further proceedings, after a detention hearing today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller.
According to the complaint, on Oct. 20, 2016, the men attempted to sell to an individual approximately four kilograms of a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine. Possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine carries a sentence of not less than five years in prison and up to a maximum of 40 years.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
