Five St. Croix men were sentenced by District Court Judge Mark A. Kearney for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Sunday.
Ivan James, who was sentenced to 420 months in prison, led the conspiracy along with Joh Williams, 38, Malachi Benjamin, 28, Ariel Petersen, 28, and Jahkiebo Joseph, 26, from his Estate LaGrange compound in Frederiksted, St. Croix, according to the press release.
“The Ivan James Organization was a violent and lawless gang that terrorized and victimized
the people of the Virgin Islands for over a decade,” stated Smith. “The tremendous work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Patrol, Virgin Islands Police Department and the Bureau of Corrections delivered the ultimate reward to the people of St. Croix – just and lengthy sentences of imprisonment
to those involved. These sentences demonstrate that the Department of Justice and our law
enforcement partners are committed to combating the threat of gang violence,” Smith said.
According to evidence introduced at trial, the investigation into the Ivan James drug trafficking organization began in January 2013 after Bureau of Corrections officers at the Golden Grove Correctional Facility seized an iPhone from then-inmate Joh Williams. A search of the cellphone seized from Williams revealed text messages related to smuggling and distribution of narcotics in the prison. Thereafter, the Drug Enforcement Administration obtained authorization to intercept calls from a second cellphone used by Williams while incarcerated. The wire investigation revealed evidence of cocaine and marijuana distribution within the facility by Williams which was supplied by Ivan James. The investigation further revealed that Vivian Ford, a former corrections officer, was a member of James’ organization who smuggled narcotics into Golden Grove in food containers for
distribution by Williams.
At trial, Tillisa Ceaser and Luis Ortiz, Jr. testified they were members of the James’ drug
trafficking organization. Ceaser testified that between 2015 and 2018, she used her secured access at the Henry Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix to smuggle approximately six kilograms of cocaine per week onboard commercial aircrafts destined for the continental United States. Ceaser further testified that she recruited couriers, including Ortiz, because Kai James wanted to increase the number of bricks of cocaine being smuggled through the airport. Trial evidence further revealed that, during the course of the conspiracy, Ivan James and Kai James caused several hundred kilograms of cocaine to be smuggled to the mainland utilizing the operation at the airport, the press release stated.
Cooperating witness, Robert Brown, a member of a rival racketeering enterprise led by Paul
Girard testified that Vivian Ford traveled from St. Croix to St. Thomas on several occasions to purchase kilogram quantities of cocaine from Keith Lewis on behalf of Ivan James and Kai James. Brown further testified that Ivan James ordered members of his gang, including Jermaine Williams, to rob Brown of five kilograms of cocaine and that Brown was pistol-whipped by Williams during the attack. In retaliation, Brown murdered Williams as he sat in his vehicle in the parking lot of his child’s preschool. Thereafter, in March 2016, Ivan James ordered members of his gang to murder Brown in retaliation for Williams’ murder. On March 14, 2016, Brown and another individual were ambushed by at least three gunmen as their vehicle exited the Good Hope community. Both occupants sustained multiple gunshot wounds but survived the attack. Brown pled guilty to Williams’ murder and faces a sentence of life imprisonment on his conviction, the release stated.
On May 25, 2017, one day after Williams was released from Golden Grove correctional
Facility, Virgin Islands police officers responded to a shooting at D. Hamilton Jackson Terrace, where they found an unresponsive adult male, later identified as Levar Pogson, a rival gang member. An eyewitness testified at trial that Ivan James, Williams, and an individual identified as “Fire” approached the playground at D. Hamilton Jackson Terrace and that James and Williams were armed with a handgun and a rifle. The witness testified that James and Williams stood over Pogson’s body and fired more than 50 times. A medical examiner testified that Pogson sustained 78 gunshot wounds to his head, neck, torso, and extremities, it said.
Testimony at trial further revealed that on July 14, 2017, federal agents conducted a
marijuana eradication operation at Ivan James’ LaGrange Compound in St. Croix after discovering six marijuana grow sites on the property. At trial, the government introduced a social media posting made on July 14, 2017, by James as he confronted law enforcement during the marijuana eradication. In the video, James called the agents “thieves” and stated they “gone with a thousand.” The official count of the marijuana plants seized from the James compound was 1,005. Thereafter, on Aug. 3, 2017, federal agents executed a search warrant on James’ LaGrange compound, where they seized a loaded Glock 22 .40 firearm, a loaded .223 caliber Olympic arms AR-15 rifle with two magazines attached, two loaded .40 caliber pistols, and an AK-47 rifle. Forensic analysis later revealed that James’ DNA was found on the Glock 22 pistol and the Olympic Arms AR-15 rifle. Ballistic testing further revealed that the shell casings collected from Pogson’s homicide crime scene on May 25, 2017, matched the casings fired from the Glock 22 pistol and Olympic Arms AR-15 rifle seized from James’ compound on Aug. 3, 2017, the release stated.
A federal jury found Ivan James guilty on drug conspiracy, possession of 1,000 marijuana
plants, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug conspiracy and possession of firearms resulting in the death of Levar Pogson. On his conviction, Judge Kearney sentenced James to 420 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Williams was also found guilty on drug conspiracy and was sentenced to 90 months of imprisonment, followed by seven years of supervised release. Petersen and Joseph pleaded guilty to possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug conspiracy and importation of firearms. Petersen was sentenced to 93 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and Joseph was sentenced to 68 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Benjamin pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug conspiracy and was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Ceaser and Ortiz, Jr. both pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing. Williams was acquitted on the firearm possession resulting in Pogson’s death and James and Williams were acquitted on the local charge of first-degree murder. The trial of Kai James is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2025, the release stated.
“The sentencing of Ivan James to 420 months of incarceration should send a powerful
message: justice will prevail against those who threaten the safety and stability of our communities. This victory is a testament to the relentless commitment and seamless collaboration between federal and local law enforcement. Together, we are dismantling violent criminal networks and transnational drug organizations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, ensuring that those who sow violence and chaos will face the full weight of the law,” stated Special Agent in Charge Denise Foster, DEA Caribbean Division.
“These sentences speak volumes and are credited to the extensive collaboration between
federal and local law enforcement partners. Our joint efforts are essential in the U.S. Virgin Islands toward combating violent crimes and illicit activities of transnational criminal organizations in our area of responsibility,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos.
