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Feds make 2 cocaine-related arrests in St. Thomas

October 17th, 2018 | Tags: St. Thomas Delroy Tatum Jr. Ricardo Belgara
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated this case and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte. Photo: VI Consortium
VI CONSORTIUM

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas, USVI: According to the release, Delroy Tatum, Jr., 53, of St. Thomas was arrested on an indictment charging him with four counts of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine.

Tatum made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller on Tuesday and was detained pending further proceedings.

According to the indictment, between May and September of 2014, Tatum sold crack cocaine to an individual on four separate occasions. The rock-like substances purchased from Tatum field-tested positive for crack cocaine on each occasion.

If convicted of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, Tatum faces a statutory term of imprisonment up to twenty years and a $250,000 fine.

U.S DEA Involvement

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated this case and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.

Also arrested was Ricardo Belgara, 49, of St. Thomas, who was charged him with two counts of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and territorial charges of robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm during the commission of a robbery.

Belgara made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller on Tuesday and was detained pending further proceedings.

Positive for crack cocaine

According to the indictment, between January and February 2014, Belgara sold crack cocaine to an individual on two separate occasions. The rock-like substances purchased from Belgara field-tested positive for crack cocaine on each occasion. Additionally, Belgara aided and abetted the robbery of the individual using a firearm.

If convicted on the territorial charge of robbery, Belgara faces up to twenty years in prison and if convicted of using a firearm during the commission of the robbery, he faces a mandatory sentence of twenty years but not more than twenty-five years.

Shappert reminds the public that an indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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