St. Thomas Resident Receives 43-Month Sentence for Fentanyl Trafficking

A federal court in St. Thomas has handed down a 43-month prison sentence to 43-year-old Tahir Donadelle for his role in attempting to distribute fentanyl. Chief District Judge Robert Mollow delivered the sentence this past Monday, following Donadelle’s earlier admission of guilt.

United States Attorney Delia Smith highlighted the lethal nature of the opioid crisis in America, noting that fentanyl claimed over 80,000 lives in 2021. “While the Virgin Islands have been relatively shielded from the brunt of the opioid epidemic, this incident underscores our vulnerability,” Smith stated. She commended the Customs and Border Protection officers whose alertness thwarted the potential distribution of these dangerous substances.

The charges stem from an incident on September 8, 2022, when Donadelle, arriving from Atlanta at Cyril E. King Airport, was subject to a random luggage inspection by Customs and Border Protection. The search revealed 14 vacuum-sealed packages in his bags, three of which contained 964 fentanyl pills marked with an “M” on one side and “30” on the other, while the rest held marijuana.

This case is not isolated in its severity; similar sentences have been meted out recently. In 2023, Elijah Hakim received an 85-month sentence for a related conviction. That same year, the Virgin Islands Police Department linked three deaths directly to fentanyl, underscoring its deadly presence even with relatively few cases locally.

Roberto Vaquero, Director of Field Operations for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, expressed his concerns about fentanyl’s dangers. “Fentanyl is among the most lethal drug threats to our nation. Our diligent officers are crucial to preventing this toxin from penetrating our borders and harming our communities,” he said.

The successful prosecution of Donadelle, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Payne, was a collaborative effort involving Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Eugene Thomas emphasized the community’s gain from such vigilant enforcement efforts against drug smuggling in the territory.