Federal agents arrested V.I. Police officer Angelo Hill on Friday, charging him with conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, in relation to the smuggling case against V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources Chief of Enforcement Roberto Tapia, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Hill made his initial appearance in District Court on St. Thomas on Friday before U.S. Magistrate
Judge Ruth Miller. Hill was ordered held without bail pending a detention hearing on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
If convicted, Hill faces a statutory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not elaborate on Hill’s alleged connection to the Tapia case. Tapia was arrested May 17 and two other defendants were arrested May 18 as part of the drug conspiracy investigation.
During Tapia’s bond hearing, federal agents testified they observed Tapia arriving at DPNR’s dock in Krum Bay dressed in his government uniform, where he boarded a DPNR boat and met a boat three miles offshore, where he allegedly received a bag with 7.72 kilos of cocaine.
Tapia was charged and released on $250,000 bail. Alleged co-conspirators Stephen Torres and Eddie Lopez-Lopez were each charged and released on $50,000 bail. (See related links below)
