Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Prison in Connection with Cocaine Smuggling Conspiracy

St. Thomas, USVI - Dellana Magner, 23, of St. Thomas, was sentenced in federal court to five years in prison on March 16, 2017, followed by five years of supervised release for her conviction for cocaine possession, Acting United States Attorney Joycelyn Hewlett announced. District Judge Curtis V. Gomez also ordered Magner to pay a $100 special assessment, and perform 400 hours of community service.

On January 26, 2017, Magner pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute not less than 3.5 and not more than 5 kilograms of cocaine in connection with a drug smuggling ring operated by Nilda Morton who utilized airline employees at the Cyril E. King Airport and female couriers to smuggle cocaine to the U.S. mainland. On three occasions between June and July 2016, airport security surveillance footage captured Magner and other drug couriers in the public restroom located in the Spirit Airlines lounge exchanging vacuum-sealed packages of cocaine before boarding their flights. The investigation culminated on July 1, 2016, with the arrest of Magner after she smuggled three kilograms of cocaine onboard an American Airlines flight destined for Miami, Florida.

This case is the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Pittsburgh, New York, Cleveland, Detroit, and St. Thomas. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia L. Smith.