Vicent Mata Anyelo, Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, Virgin Islands 2022

St. Croix, VI – A Venezuelan boat captain was sentenced to 65 months in prison for his role in a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation.

Vicent Mata Anyelo, 33, was the last of 11 Venezuelan nationals to be sentenced in the case, which began in 2019. Mata Anyelo was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

On September 25, 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a suspicious 55-foot vessel named La Gran Tormenta off the coast of St. Croix. The vessel was displaying Venezuelan nationality indicia, and its occupants failed to respond to the Coast Guard’s attempts to engage in questioning.

As the Coast Guard Cutter Donald Horsley approached the vessel, the occupants began jettisoning packages into the water. The Coast Guard retrieved two bales from the water, which contained approximately 49 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride.

The Coast Guard eventually obtained control of the vessel through an entanglement tactic and discovered 11 persons on board, including Mata Anyelo. The case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Customs and Border Protection.

Mata Anyelo must also pay a $100 special assessment fee and is subject to deportation. The prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, which targets high-level drug traffickers and money launderers.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz is prosecuting the case, which has resulted in significant prison time for the defendants.

Defendant Information:

Defendant Name: Vicent Mata Anyelo (a/k/a Vicent Mata)
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States
City and State: St. Croix, VI
Exact Date: December 13, 2022
Sentence: 65 months imprisonment followed by 2 years supervised release
Dollar Amounts: $100 special assessment fee

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