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St. Croix Man Sentenced for Marijuana Grow Operation
A 52-year-old St. Croix man is behind bars for five and a half years after being caught running a marijuana grow operation and possessing a firearm.
Troy Lance Patterson was sentenced to 60 months of incarceration for Carrying of a Firearm during a Drug Trafficking Offense, followed by four months of incarceration on the Illegal Use of Utility charge, to be served consecutively. He also received a term of four years supervised release, was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3969 to the V.I. Water and Power Authority, was fined $1000, and was ordered to pay a special assessment fee of $100.
The charges against Patterson stem from a search warrant executed at his Anna’s Hope, Christiansted residence on September 18, 2019. Federal agents located an unlicensed, loaded, and operable .38 special revolver, over 80 rounds of ammunition, multiple scales, plastic baggies, approximately 168 gross grams of cocaine hydrochloride, approximately 117 grams of marijuana, and $12,473.00 in U.S. currency.
Further investigation revealed a multi-room indoor marijuana grow operation, which was supplied with electricity through an unauthorized Water and Power Authority (WAPA) utility connection. This is a clear example of the brazen disregard for the law shown by individuals involved in marijuana cultivation.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz handling the prosecution. This sentence should serve as a warning to those involved in marijuana cultivation and other illicit activities.
Patterson’s sentence includes the forfeiture of the confiscated $12,473.00 in U.S. currency, firearm, and ammunition. This case is a reminder that those who engage in such activities will face severe consequences.
The sentence was handed down by Judge Wilma Lewis on July 27, 2021. Patterson had previously pled guilty to the charges on October 20, 2020.
This sentence is a significant blow to those involved in marijuana grow operations and other illicit activities. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of law enforcement agencies in the Virgin Islands.
Key Facts
- State: Virgin Islands
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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