A federal grand jury indicted four St. Croix men Tuesday on a variety of drug charges. The four defendants on Wednesday made their initial appearance in District Court on St. Croix before U.S. Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon after their arrests, U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
The defendants are:
– Bruce McIntosh, 52, also known as “Bird” and “Butch.” He is charged with five counts of distribution of cocaine, one count of conspiracy to commit distribution of cocaine, and one count of using a communications facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the Controlled Substances Act.
– Misael Melendez, 49, aka “Salao.” Melendez is charged with three counts of distribution of cocaine and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
– Winston Decastro, 42, aka “Moo-Moo.” He is charged with one count of distribution of cocaine and one count of possession of cocaine.
– Carl Hansen, 55, aka “Cuz” and “Aquillo.” He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit distribution of cocaine and one count of using a communications facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the Controlled Substances Act.
Decastro was arrested Tuesday evening and the other three were arrested Wednesday morning by federal law enforcement officers and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
Cannon ordered McIntosh, Melendez and Decastro detained pending further proceedings. He also ordered Hansen released on an unsecured $50,000 bond, and scheduled the arraignment and detention hearing for Sept. 21.
The maximum penalties for conviction of the charged offenses are as follows:
– distribution of cocaine, 40 years in prison;
– conspiracy to commit distribution of cocaine, 40 years in prison;
– felon in possession of a firearm, 10 years in prison;
– using a communications facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the Controlled Substances Act, four years in prison;
– possession of cocaine, one year in prison.
The case is being investigated by the VIPD, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Division, U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian H. Stringer.
