Feds, VIPD Make Major Cocaine Bust On St. Croix; Four Arrested

ST. CROIX — Four defendants made their initial appearance today in District Court here before U.S. Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon after their arrest for drug-related offenses, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.

The defendants are:

Bruce McIntosh, 52, aka “Bird” aka “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 Cpontrolled Substances Act.

Misael Melendez, 49, aka “Salao.” Melendez is charged with three counts of distribution of cocaine and one count of 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” & “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.

A federal grand jury indicted the four defendants Tuesday. Winston Decastro was arrested Tuesday evening and the other three were arrested early this morning by federal law enforcement officers and the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD). Judge 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 September 21, 2015.

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.

U.S. Attorney Sharpe 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.

This 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.