April 24, 2001 Territorial Court Judge Ishmael Meyers has ordered bail of $100,000 for each of three suspects arrested Sunday afternoon with six kilograms, or 13 pounds, of cocaine on board their 22-foot speedboat.
The suspects were identified in a highly emotional court hearing Monday morning. They are Geraldo Perez, his brother Regaldo Perez and Mercedes Luciano Valentula. They were formally charged with drug possession and drug trafficking. Arraignment for all three is set for May 3.
On Monday, law enforcement officials and prosecutors speculated that the charges could be brought on the federal level, depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
Family members in the courtroom sobbed openly as prison guards and court marshals escorted the defendants in and out of the room.
The three were taken into custody Sunday afternoon after DPNR enforcement officers said they boarded their boat and found open bags of cocaine in one of the boat's compartment's, reportedly near the captain's console.
Valentula's status with the Immigration and Naturalization Service is also the subject of an ongoing investigation. Law enforcement authorities are checking to determine if she is in the territory legally.