St. Thomas Duo Busted with 4 Kilos of Coke

ST. THOMAS, USVI – Reinaldo Morone, 44, and Walid John, 37, both of St. Thomas, are facing serious federal drug charges after a failed attempt to peddle four kilograms of what authorities confirm was cocaine. The pair made their initial court appearance on October 21, 2016, before District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez, answering to a criminal complaint accusing them of one count of possession with intent to distribute the dangerous narcotic.

According to court documents, the alleged deal went down on October 20, 2016, when Morone and John attempted to sell the substantial quantity of white powder to an unidentified individual. The substance field-tested positive for cocaine, triggering the swift intervention of law enforcement. This wasn’t a small-time operation; we’re talking about a significant amount of product hitting the streets if they’d succeeded.

Following a detention hearing today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller, both defendants were released on $10,000 unsecured bonds. However, their freedom is far from guaranteed. They’ve been placed under the watchful eye of electronic monitoring and are also required to report to third-party custodians, ensuring they remain accountable as the case progresses. Don’t mistake leniency for a get-out-of-jail-free card.

The stakes are incredibly high for Morone and John. A conviction for possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison. The maximum penalty? A staggering 40 years behind bars. This is a serious felony, and these men are looking at a long stretch if found guilty.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is leading the investigation into this case, bringing their considerable resources to bear. Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte is handling the prosecution, and you can bet she’ll be building a solid case against the pair. The DEA doesn’t waste time on frivolous pursuits; they believe they have a strong case here.

United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe was quick to remind the public that the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, not proof of guilt. Both Morone and John are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. But make no mistake: the feds are coming down hard on drug trafficking in the Virgin Islands, and this case is a clear demonstration of that commitment. We’ll continue to follow this case and bring you updates as they develop.