Puerto Rican Men Jailed For Smuggling Cash, Illegal Immigrants, Into US Virgin Islands

ST. THOMAS — Two Puerto Rican men were sentenced to federal prison on separate smuggling charges, U.S. Attorney Ronald Sharpe announced via press release on Thursday.

District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced on September 14, 2016, Angel De Jesus Marrero, 31, pleaded guilty to three months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for encouraging and inducing aliens to illegally enter the United States. Judge Gomez also ordered Marrero to pay a $100 special assessment and perform 200 hours of community service.

On May 3, 2016, Marrero pleaded guilty to encouraging and inducing aliens to illegally enter the United States. According to the plea agreement, on December 22, 2015, Marrero was solicited by his co-defendant, Rodriguez Ramirez, to assist in the passage of five illegal Brazilian nationals through the St. Thomas airport by checking them in at the airline ticket kiosk. Afterward, he was to ensure that the illegal aliens made it to the appropriate gate to depart St. Thomas for New York. Federal agents, however, thwarted the plan before anyone boarded the aircraft and apprehended the defendants along with the illegal aliens.

This case was investigated by the Customs and Border Protection Office of Internal Affairs and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.

Read more: http://viconsortium.com/virgin-islands-2/puerto-rican-men-jailed-for-smuggling-cash-illegal-immigrants-into-usvi/