A federal jury has convicted a St. Croix man of maintaining a drug-involved premise following a trial that detailed the cultivation of marijuana plants at a Christiansted residence, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.
United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced that the jury returned its verdict on Jan. 14, finding Mikey Luke, 52, guilty of the charge.
According to testimony at trial, Virgin Islands Police Department officers were dispatched to the Anna’s Hope area of Christiansted on Sept. 28, 2021. While responding, officers observed marijuana plants outside a residence. A subsequent search revealed marijuana plants throughout a studio apartment and across the property.
Law enforcement officers testified that the studio apartment was outfitted with fans, air conditioning vents, strings and lights used to cultivate the plants. Additional equipment, including pots, soil, and gardening tools, was also found. Officers seized a total of 138 marijuana plants at various stages of growth, ranging from seedlings to mature plants.
During an interview with law enforcement, Luke admitted that he owned the residence and that the marijuana plants belonged to him. He also admitted he had been growing marijuana for more than 10 years, according to testimony.
Maintaining a drug-involved premise carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
