United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Wednesday, December 14, 2022, that Shannon John, 37, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson, III to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine while onboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

Four men were found on the vessel intercepted by USVI authorities on January 9, 2022.

Sean John and Emmanuel Tolentino-Lebron already pleaded guilty on December 7, 2022.

The 4th person on the vessel was identified as Augusto Rodriguez-Molina.

 Approximately 567kg of cocaine hydrochloride was found on the vessel.

Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory analysis later confirmed that the bales recovered from the vessel contained approximately 567 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride.

Two men from Tortola, Virgin Islands pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine while on board a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States when they appeared in a US Virgin Islands (USVI) court on Wednesday, December 7, 2022.