Man arrested at Rohlsen Airport on drug charges
Published: October 4, 2012
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ST. CROIX - A detention hearing has been set for 9 a.m. Friday in the federal case filed against Malik Felix Jr. on charges that he was traveling out of the territory with more than a kilo of cocaine that he intended to sell.
In a sworn affidavit filed by Homeland Security special agent Dennis Carter, Felix was arrested at Rohlsen Airport on Monday afternoon and charged with a single count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Felix appeared before Magistrate Judge George Cannon on Tuesday afternoon and was advised of his rights on the charge.
According to Carter, about noon Monday, Felix presented himself to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection booth as he prepared to board a flight to Miami. He was allowed to proceed to the Transportation and Security Administration screening for further inspection and then allowed to go to the waiting area without any interruption, according to the affidavit.
Carter said that about 1 p.m., V.I. Police Officer Gregory Bennerson and his K-9 Officer "Rico" were on patrol in the airport as part of a joint Homeland Security Investigation operation. The two officers conducted a sweep of the passenger waiting area, and at that time, "Rico" indicated a positive alert to a carry-on bag that Felix confirmed was his.
Carter arrived at that time and met with Felix and indicated that it was necessary to search the bag, according to the affidavit. Carter said that when the bag was searched, he found one brick-like object with a gross weight of 1.5 kilos that contained a white powdery substance and was wrapped in duct tape.
The substance was field-tested and results were positive for cocaine, according to Carter.
Felix waived his Miranda rights and admitted to the agent that the cocaine was his and that he was taking it to Miami to sell it, the affidavit stated.
According to court documents, the prosecution moved for Felix' detention in the matter, and with objection from Felix's public defender, Patricia Schrader-Cook, Cannon scheduled a preliminary examination and the detention hearing for Friday in the Magistrate Court.
- Contact reporter Fiona Stokes at 714-9149 or email fstokes@dailynews.vi.
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