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  by pltm
• Aug 30, 2019
• 1

(PLTM) - Kalik Aaron, Arkim Clersaint and Le Shaun Fahie, the three men that were nabbed on Sunday, August 25 by US Customs and Border Security (CBP) Marine Interdiction Agents, and subsequently taken before the USVI Magistrates Court, claimed that they were returning from a visit to Jost Van Dyke.

It was disclosed that on Sunday at approximately 9:00 p.m., the US agents stopped a vessel operated by Aaron, after it was observed leaving Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and it entered the United States’ waters near St. John with improper lighting.

The court heard that after the vessel was stopped, the Maritime Interdiction Agents discovered two aliens and one United States citizen onboard.

The aliens were identified as Clersaint and Fahie, both citizens of St. Lucia. Clersaint and Fahie provided the agents with St. Lucian passports, and Aaron provided proof of U.S. citizenship.

Aaron, the captain of the vessel, is said to have told the agents that all three individuals had departed St. Thomas in the Frydenhoj Lagoon area on the evening of August 25, 2019, onboard the vessel, and traveled to Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands for a few hours before returning to St. John.

The point of entry and time of their arrival, however, is not a designated port of entry nor hour of operation for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The men were taken into custody that night, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller on Monday for an advice of rights hearing.

United States Attorney, Gretchen C.F. Shappert disclosed that Aaron was charged with Bringing in or Harboring Illegal Aliens, and Clersaint and Fahie were both charged with Improper Entry by an Alien. They were then released pending trial.

The case is being investigated by Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney, Delia L. Smith.

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