Tahir Donadelle, of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced.
According to court documents, on September 8, 2022, Donadelle arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas from Atlanta, GA. During a random screening of incoming flights, Customs and Border Protection officers inspected Donadelle’s suitcase and later observed as he retrieved his suitcase from the luggage carousel. Donadelle admitted that the suitcase was his property. Officers searched Donadelle’s luggage and found three packages containing 964 light blue pills. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory later confirmed that the pills contained 109 grams of fentanyl. At sentencing, Donadelle faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000. A federal District Court Judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
