St. Thomas-USVI - United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that a St. Thomas man was arrested on Friday July 23, 2021 at the Cyril E. King Airport on criminal charges related to his alleged possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
According to court documents, Allany Peterson-Mendez, 25, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands flew onto St. Thomas on a commercial airline with a green leafy substance contained in his checked luggage. Peterson-Mendez was escorted by Customs and Border Protection officers to a secure location for a baggage check, during which officers located two kilograms of marijuana
Petersen-Mendez is charged with Possession of Marijuana with intent to distribute. The defendant made his initial appearance in federal court on Monday July 26, 2021 before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller.
The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
