Two men from Trinidad and Tobago have been indicted on charges related to international cocaine distribution, according to Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson. The indictment, unsealed on September 19, 2025, charges Daveanan Deonarine, also known as “Dave,” age 49, and Michael Samsondar, also known as “Don,” “Captain,” or “Fisherman,” age 48. Both face counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine internationally and actual international cocaine distribution.
The charges stem from a bilateral investigation that involved the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and several law enforcement agencies in Trinidad and Tobago. In 2023, the DEA seized approximately 168 kilograms of cocaine intended for distribution in the United States.
If convicted on these charges, both Deonarine and Samsondar face a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison with the possibility of life imprisonment. Each could be fined up to $10 million and would be subject to at least five years of supervised release after serving their sentences. They also each face a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson emphasized the presumption of innocence for both defendants, stating: "the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt."
The investigation included efforts by the DEA’s Port of Spain Country Office, Trinidad and Tobago’s Transnational Organized Crime Unit, Strategic Services Agency, and Special Investigative Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lynn E. Schiffman and André Jones are prosecuting the case.
