A Trinidad and Tobago resident, Shurlan Guppy, also known as Shurlan Gorin, Rafael Oquendo, Christopher Hughes Matthews, and Marc Roman, has been extradited to the United States to face federal drug charges. U.S. Attorney David Metcalf announced that Guppy was arrested and charged by indictment with conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and cocaine, along with related offenses.
Guppy appeared in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania last week after his extradition from Trinidad and Tobago. He was ordered detained in federal custody following a detention hearing.
According to the indictment, between 2017 and July 2022, Guppy allegedly conspired with others to distribute large amounts of controlled substances such as heroin and cocaine across the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the District of Delaware, and other locations. The indictment claims that Guppy distributed these substances both in person and through delivery services for cash payments.
The document further alleges that communication among Guppy and his associates took place in person as well as via cell phones—sometimes using Facetime or encrypted applications like WhatsApp—to discuss pricing, availability, delivery arrangements, payment methods for drugs, and occasionally used coded language.
If convicted on all counts, Guppy faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum term of ten years.
"The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lizmar Bosques."
"Significant assistance with the extradition was provided by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and its Transnational Organized Crime Unit, the Trinidad and Tobago Central Authority of the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago Customs and Immigration, the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs."
"The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court."
