Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute

St. Thomas, USVI – Estanislao De Jesus, 47, of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty Thursday in District Court on St. Thomas to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Sentencing is scheduled for January 5, 2017.

According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on May 7, 2016, agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration arrested De Jesus and Tomas Liriano-Castillo after Liriano-Castillo traveled by boat from Tortola to Hull Bay, St. Thomas, with six kilograms of cocaine. De Jesus admitted that he knew Liriano-Castillo went to Tortola to bring back cocaine to sell in St. Thomas.

De Jesus faces a minimum sentence of not less than five years, and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. He also faces a $5 million fine.

The case was investigated by the DEA and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte.