Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility prisoner Al-Ahad Barbel, 29, on Monday was sentenced to an additional 30 days in prison by District Court Judge Raymond Finch for possession of prison contraband, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent-in-Charge Vito S. Guarino announced Tuesday.
Barbel also was ordered to pay a special assessment of $100 to the court. The 30 days must be served consecutively to the sentence Barbel was serving at the time of the offense. On June 20, 2014, Barbel pleaded guilty to possession of prison contraband after law enforcement officers discovered and seized a cell phone and a subscriber identity device from him while he was an inmate at Golden Grove.
On Sept. 18, 2013, federal and local law enforcement officers conducted a search at the St. Croix facility for contraband. Cellular telephones are prohibited in correctional facilities because they are known to be used by prisoners to intimidate witnesses, orchestrate narcotics transactions, and to facilitate other criminal activity, including murders.
The case was investigated by the V.I. Bureau of Corrections Gang Intelligence Search Team and the DEA. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alphonso Andrews and Rami Badawy.
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