Georgia Man Cuffed for Smuggling 8.5kg of Weed to USVI

Bert Donadelle, Jr., 26, of Georgia, is headed to federal lockup after attempting to flood the U.S. Virgin Islands with 8.5 kilograms of marijuana. The hard move earned him three months behind bars, three years of supervised release, 300 hours of community service, and a $100 special assessment, announced United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe.

The bust went down at Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas on April 3, 2016. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) K-9 unit flagged a checked bag belonging to Donadelle, who had just landed on a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta. The dog’s nose didn’t lie—agents found bulk narcotics stashed inside.

CBP officers searched the luggage, confirmed the contents, resealed it, and let it ride the carousel like nothing happened. Donadelle picked up that bag—and a second one tagged with his name—like a man with nothing to hide. He didn’t make it far. Agents moved in, seized both bags, and field-tested what they already knew: 8.5 kilograms of marijuana, ready for distribution.

On June 15, 2016, Donadelle pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. No excuses, no trial—just a plea agreement spelling out his role in trying to move a small mountain of weed into the territory.

The case was built by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the federal muscle behind cross-border drug interdictions. Their work ensured Donadelle didn’t slip through the cracks despite the seemingly routine arrival.

Assistant United States Attorney Kim L. Chisholm prosecuted the case. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez handed down the sentence, sending a message that even attempted drug runs into island territories won’t be tolerated. Donadelle now serves his time—and his debt to the community—under federal watch.

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