Yeral Marrero Reynoso, 29, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced Friday to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 75 kilograms of cocaine and three firearms, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy issued the sentence following Reynoso’s conviction stemming from an August 2024 incident on St. John.
According to court documents, federal agents with Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, along with Border Patrol agents, were patrolling Haulover Bay around 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 28, 2024, when they spotted two men walking a trail toward the beach — one carrying an assault-style long gun. Minutes later, the men were seen returning up the trail carrying three black duffel bags toward a nearby parking area.
Agents then observed a lone gray Acura RDX leaving the area. With assistance from the Virgin Islands Police Department, they stopped the vehicle and identified the two occupants, including Rivera Palmer, as matching the suspects seen on the trail.
Inside the vehicle, agents recovered two assault-style rifles on the rear floorboard — both lacking serial numbers — and a Glock .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine on the driver’s side floor. Three duffel bags in the back of the vehicle contained 61 brick-like packages, which tested positive for approximately 75 kilograms of cocaine.
