Jason Frett, the 36-year-old Tortola rap artist known as “Ritical,” was arrested in St. Thomas last Thursday and charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, law enforcers said.
Ashley Warner, 54, also from this territory, was arrested and charged with the offence as well, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office.
The men are accused of attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine in coolers through the Cyril E. King Airport to the US mainland when they were stopped by US Customs and Border Protection officers, the release stated.
“The white powdery substance discovered inside the coolers field-tested positive for cocaine,” the Department of Justice alleged.
Both men appeared before Judge Ruth Miller and were detained pending further proceedings.
If convicted of the charge, Messrs. Frett and Warner face a prison sentence of no less than 10 years and no more than life — and a possible fine of $10 million, according to the department.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection, and persecuted by Assistant US Attorney Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte.