News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2005

Operation Frostbite
Fifteen Defendants Indicted for Money Laundering
and Drug Trafficking

ST. CROIX, United States Virgin Islands - Acting United States Attorney Anthony J. Jenkins, District of the Virgin Islands, and Jerome Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Caribbean Division, announced today the unsealing of a multiple count indictment which was returned by a federal grand jury on May 5, 2005 against fifteen defendants, charging them with money laundering and drug trafficking. The defendants are identified as follows:

				Age:	Residence: 

         Christopher Alfred 	30 	Frederiksted, St. Croix, V.I. 

         Shango Allick 		23 	Frederiksted, St. Croix, V.I. 

         Leigh Bennett 		23 	Sayre, PA. 

         Sheryl Carr 		26 	Frederiksted, St. Croix, V.I.

         Isilee Dozier 		27 	Clarksville, TN 

         Isaiah Fawkes 		25 	Frederiksted, St. Croix, V.I.

         Marcelino Garcia 	26 	Frederiksted, St. Croix, V.I.

         Jamaal Maragh 		23 	Frederiksted, St. Croix, V.I.

         Roberta Newton 	25 	Frederiksted, St. Croix, V.I.

         Myron Punter 		29 	Clarksville, TN

         Jimmie Rainer, Jr. 	26 	Fairbanks, AK

         Shelly Stringer 	38 	Fort Riley, KS 

         Carolyn Urgent 	36 	Frederiksted, St. Croix, V.I

         Tonisha Wade 		24 	Fairbanks, AK

         Jamal Young 		23 	Frederiksted, St. Croix, V.I.

The Indictment alleges that from approximately June 2001, until May 2005, the defendants conspired to conduct financial transactions affecting interstate commerce using property which in fact involved the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking, with the intent to promote the carrying on of the drug trafficking, and knowing that the transactions were designed in whole or in part to conceal and disguise the nature, the location, the source, the ownership and the control of the proceeds of the drug trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(a)(1)(A)(i) and 1956(a)(1)(B)(i). The Indictment also alleges that the defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute narcotics, namely five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine, a Schedule II narcotic drug controlled substance, fifty (50) grams or more of cocaine base, which is commonly referred to as “crack,” a Schedule II narcotic drug controlled substance, and less than fifty (50) kilograms of marijuana, a Schedule I narcotic drug controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) and 841(b)(1)(D).

Essentially, the indictment alleges that the investigation led to the discovery of a drug trafficking organization operating in Fairbanks, Alaska, supplied with narcotics from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana were sent, usually via Express Mail parcels, from St. Croix to Fairbanks. Members of the organization in Alaska then distributed the narcotics in Alaska for significant financial profit. Some of the illegal drug proceeds were then sent back to St. Croix, via Western Union wire transfers and money orders. Defendants and others were recruited to either send the money transfers to St. Croix or to receive the transfers in St. Croix. The government uncovered documentation showing that at least 167 wire transfers and money orders were sent between St. Croix and Fairbanks, for an approximate total value of $385,000.00.

The drug trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years, and a maximum of life, along with a five million dollar fine. The money laundering charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, and a $500,000.00 fine. The indictment alleges that the government intends to forfeit all property, real and personal, involved in the offenses, and any property that is traceable to the violations.

Attorney Jenkins thanked Jerome Harris, Special Agent-in-Charge, DEA’s Caribbean Division, Rodney Bensen, Special Agent-in-Charge, DEA’s Seattle Division and Brian Wempling, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service, for their hard work in successfully investigating and bringing this case to fruition, without incident. He also expressed his appreciation to Commissioner Elton Lewis, Virgin Islands Police Department, U.S. Marshal Conrad Hoover, the Fairbanks Alaska Police Department, and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division for their assistance in the investigation. Gene Hawk, the Resident Agent in Charge of DEA, St. Croix has provided audio commenting on the case. The audio can be accessed by dialing 1-888-557-6494, and then dialing mailbox number 708.

Attorney Jenkins emphasized that the Indictment is merely a formal charge, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until guilt is established at trial.