St. Thomas Man Sentenced To 151 Months For Conspiracy To Possess And Possession With Intent To Distribute Cocaine

St. Thomas, USVI - District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez today sentenced Isa Noel, 25, to 151 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, to be followed by five years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe.

On November 14, 2013, after a three-day trial in federal court, a jury found Noel guilty of the three charges. Evidence at trial established that Noel, a supervisor at GCG Ground Services at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, used his position to smuggle cocaine past security checkpoints at the airport. Specifically, on or about September 16, 2012, Noel and another co-conspirator smuggled six kilograms of cocaine to a waiting courier in the public bathroom of the airport. The courier was arrested as he attempted to board a flight to the mainland United States. The courier received a 120-month prison sentence.

Evidence at trial also established that on October 17, 2012, Noel recruited a fellow baggage handler to deliver cocaine to another courier. Both the baggage handler and the courier were arrested and prosecuted. At Noel’s trial, four co-conspirators testified about his involvement in the conspiracy and distribution of cocaine. Joelvis Acosta Liz, Edisson Peguero Ortiz and Allen Pacquette pleaded guilty to drug charges prior to Noel’s trial. Kirsten Alexander pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony. All four testified against Noel during his trial.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Virgin Islands Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nelson L. Jones.