On October 6, 2016, District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced three defendants on their convictions for conspiracy to distribute marijuana from Los Angeles, CA, to St. Thomas, VI, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
Clarence Griffin, 44, of Los Angeles, was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Robert Brown, 29, of St. Croix, was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Jamila Felix, 29, of St. Thomas, was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. All three defendants were ordered to forfeit $351,000 to the United States, jointly and severally, which represents the proceeds from the sale of the marijuana.
On May 16, 2016, Griffin, Brown and Felix pleaded guilty in federal court to count one of the indictment which charged conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute up to 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. According to the plea agreements filed with the court, between July 2012 and December 2013, Griffin and Brown shipped barrels containing at least 700 kilograms but less than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana concealed in “Chow Mein” cans from Los Angeles to St. Thomas utilizing a trucking service. Felix later deposited the proceeds from the marijuana sales into her bank accounts in St. Thomas, and subsequently wired the proceeds electronically to Griffin and other members of the conspiracy in the mainland United States.
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia L. Smith.
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