Edward Saldana, a 37-year-old man from St. Croix, has pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge. According to court documents, Saldana was involved in a scheme to smuggle cocaine from St. Croix to Florida.
The investigation began on January 23, 2023, when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received a phone call from an officer of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Henry E Rohlsen Airport (HERA) on St. Croix. The officer reported that two travelers, Edward Saldana and Bianca Torres, were detained during the inspection process on suspicion of drug smuggling.
During the inspection of Torres’ carry-on bag, X-rays revealed an anomaly, which led to the discovery of four kilograms of cocaine. Further inspection of Saldana’s bags also revealed an additional four kilograms of cocaine. The investigation revealed that Saldana had provided Torres with the cocaine earlier that day, and she was to be paid $3,000 by Saldana for smuggling the cocaine to Florida.
Torres pleaded guilty on February 12, 2024, and her sentencing is scheduled for June 12, 2024. Saldana’s sentencing is scheduled for August 22, 2024. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States. The OCDETF program uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to achieve its goals.
The case was investigated by HSI and CBP, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry. The guilty plea is a significant development in the case, and it highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking and organized crime in the USVI.
United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Saldana’s guilty plea, which was entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Emile Henderson III. The plea is a result of the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to bring those involved in drug conspiracy to justice. As the case moves forward, the community can expect to see a continued commitment to combating organized crime and drug trafficking in the USVI.
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Key Facts
- State: Virgin Islands
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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