Dominican cocaine trafficker agrees to minimum 10-year sentence

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A native of the Dominican Republic has agreed to a minimum 10-year sentence for trafficking 175 pounds of cocaine in the territory.

Yeral Marrero Reynoso, 28, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith said. According to court documents, on August 28, 2024, while patrolling in the Haulover Bay area of St. John, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine and Border Patrol agents observed two men on the trail heading towards Haulover Bay, one armed with an assault-style long gun. Minutes later, the men were observed carrying three black duffel bags up the trail to the parking area where a gray Acura RDX was parked. The agents, with the assistance of the Virgin Islands Police Department, stopped the vehicle driven by Marrero Reynoso.

The passenger, Rivera-Palmer, and Marrero Reynoso were the only occupants of the vehicle and matched the description of the two men seen earlier on the trail. As they approached the vehicle, agents observed two assault-style rifles bearing no serial numbers on the rear passenger floorboard. A Glock .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine was also found on the driver side floorboard of the vehicle. In the rear of the vehicle, agents recovered three duffle bags containing 75 kilograms of cocaine.