St. Thomas, USVI - On May 10, 2018, Shawn A. Callwood, 36, of St. Thomas, Glenys Gruz-Calcano, 28, Anyi Paola Calcano, 19, Luis Alberto Pimentel Gautier, 42, and Rafael Morales-Osoria, 35, all of Dominican Republic, made their initial appearances before U.S. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez, after being charged in criminal complaints with alien smuggling and illegal reentry into the United States, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. Judge Gomez detained all five defendants pending further proceedings.
According to the complaint, on May 9, 2018, the Marine Interdiction Agents (MIA) of the Air and Marine Operations (AMO) intercepted Callwood’s vessel in the U.S. territorial waters near St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Callwood failed to yield to both lights and sirens directing him to stop, and a warning shot was fired across the bow of Callwood’s vessel. Five undocumented illegal aliens, including Glenys Gruz-Calcano, Anyi Paola Calcano, Luis Alberto Pimentel Gautier, and Rafael Morales-Osoria, were discovered on board when the vessel came to a stop. Luis Alberto Pimentel Gautier and Rafael Morales-Osoria both have been previously deported from the United States pursuant to felony convictions.
Callwood is facing up to 10 years in prison for smuggling illegal aliens into the United States. Luis Alberto Pimentel Gautier and Rafael Morales-Osoria both face up to 20 years in prison for illegal reentry by an aggravated felon.
This case is being investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO), the USCG and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anna A. Vlasova.
United States Attorney Shappert 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
