Three Arrested in Separate Drug Possession Cases

Three men were arrested and charged in drug possession cases – two of crack cocaine and the third of marijuana – in separate, unrelated cases District Court Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert reported Wednesday.

Delroy Tatum
Delroy Tatum, Jr., 53, of St. Thomas was arrested on an indictment charging him with four counts of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, announced.

Tatum made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller on Tuesday and was detained pending further proceedings.

According to the indictment, between May and September 2014, Tatum sold crack cocaine to an individual on four separate occasions. The rock-like substances purchased from Tatum field-tested positive for crack cocaine on each occasion.

If convicted of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, Tatum faces a statutory term of imprisonment up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine.

Ricardo Belgara
Ricardo Belgara, 49, of St. Thomas was arrested on an indictment charging him with two counts of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and territorial charges of robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm during the commission of a robbery, according to Shappert.

Belgara made his initial appearance before Miller on Tuesday and was detained pending further proceedings.

According to the indictment, between January and February 2014, Belgara sold crack cocaine to an individual on two separate occasions. The rock-like substances purchased from Belgara field-tested positive for crack cocaine on each occasion. Additionally, Belgara aided and abetted the robbery of the individual using a firearm.

If convicted of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, Belgara faces a statutory term of imprisonment up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine. If convicted on the territorial charge of robbery, Belgara faces up to 20 years in prison and if convicted of using a firearm during the commission of the robbery, he faces a mandatory sentence of 20 years but not more than twenty-five years.

Le’Quan Registe
Le’Quan Registe, 24, of St. Thomas was arrested on an indictment charging him with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, Shappert said.

Registe made his initial appearance before Superior Court Judge Denise Francois Wednesday and was detained pending further proceedings.

According to the indictment, on May 18, 2018, Registe was found in possession of marijuana for distribution and he was also in possession of an unlicensed firearm.

If convicted of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, Registe faces a statutory term of imprisonment up to five years and a $250,000 fine. If convicted on the possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, Registe faces a consecutive seven-year term of imprisonment.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated all three of these cases, and all three are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S> Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.

United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that an indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.