Yeral Marrero Reynoso, 29, of the Dominican Republic, has been sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy to 10 years’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute 75 kilograms of cocaine and three firearms.
According to court documents, on August 28, 2024, at approximately 2:30 p.m., while patrolling the area of Haulover Bay, St. John, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine agents, along with Border Patrol agents, detected two males walking the beach trail towards the beach at Haulover Bay.
One male was carrying an assault-style long gun. Minutes later, the males were observed carrying three black duffel bags up the trail towards a small parking area.
A lone grey Acura RDX was then seen leaving the area. Federal agents, with the assistance of the Virgin Islands Police Department, were able to locate the vehicle suspected of containing the two males seen walking the trail.
The vehicle was stopped. Rivera Palmer was one of two occupants in the car who matched the description of the two men seen on the trail.
As federal agents approached the vehicle, two assault-style rifles were seen on the rear passenger floorboard.
A third firearm, a Glock .40 calibre pistol with an extended magazine, was found on the driver’s side floorboard.
Neither of the two assault-style rifles had serial numbers. In the rear of the vehicle, agents recovered three duffle bags containing 61 brick-like packages containing approximately 75 kilograms of cocaine.
