U.S. Attorney for the Virgin Islands, Delia L. Smith on Friday confirmed that District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis sentenced Kareme Holst, 46, to 102 months in federal prison following a guilty plea to charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Photo: VI Consortium

The St. Croix native, now a resident of Colorado, will also face five years of supervised release and a $1,000 fine.

Holst's conviction stems from an incident on October 18, 2021, where he was caught with approximately three kilograms of cocaine while attempting to board an American Airlines flight from St. Croix to Miami, Florida.

Customs and Border Patrol officers at the Henry Rohlsen Airport discovered the illicit substance cleverly hidden within jars of coconut in his luggage, as well as in the pockets of clothing.

Upon being apprehended, Holst admitted ownership of the luggage and confirmed he personally packed the bags, sealing his fate with the guilty plea on August 25, 2022.

The successful prosecution of this case came through the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Patrol, with Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry leading the charge in court.

This case is part of the broader Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative, which combines the expertise and resources of multiple federal agencies.

The OCDETF's primary mission is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that pose a significant threat to the security of the country through a strategic, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.