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Press Release

Puerto Rico Man Sentenced to 126 Months in Prison for Drug Conspiracy Charge

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Virgin Islands

St. Thomas, USVI – District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced today Jose Luis Ponce-Pagan, 36, of Puerto Rico, to 126 months’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release for conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Judge Gomez ordered Ponce-Pagan to pay a $100 special assessment and perform 300 hours of community service.

On March 29, 2016, Ponce-Pagan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute. According to the plea agreement filed with the court, between August 30, 2015, and September 3, 2015, Ponce-Pagan and at least one other person arranged to purchase approximately 100 kilograms of cocaine on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, for distribution in Puerto Rico.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.

Updated February 8, 2017

Topic
Drug Trafficking