Mastermind behind cocaine trafficking organization gets 23 years in jail. Photo: VI CONSORTIUM

Judge Lewis also sentenced Quinones-Davila to five years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay a fine of $10,000 and a special assessment of $400.00.

On June 26, 2018, a federal jury convicted Quinones-Davila along with five co-defendants on cocaine related charges.

Evidence at trial revealed that the organization planned the retrieval of over 300 kilograms of cocaine during the period of the conspiracy which existed from January 2014 to March 2016.

Quinones-Davila functioned as a leader in the drug trafficking organization.

He organized the mid-sea retrieval of 35 kilograms of cocaine in August 2014, 71 kilograms of cocaine in October 2014, 80 kilograms of cocaine in November 2014 and 87 kilograms of cocaine in November 2015, according to the District Court’s release.

Except for the one in November 2014, all other shipments were successfully retrieved and transported, via boat, to St. Croix.

On November 14, 2015, law enforcement agents seized the 87 kilogram shipment packaged in four suitcases on a beach at Knight’s Bay on St. Croix. They apprehended four members of the organization, the release said.

Fourteen individuals were originally charged as part of the drug trafficking organization. Prior to trial six defendants entered guilty pleas and were sentenced. Of the six defendants that went to trial two others have been sentenced: Jesus Burgos-Montanez was sentenced to 68 months; and Jose Hodge was sentenced to 240 months.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alphonso G. Andrews, Jr. and Everard E. Potter.