A St. John resident wrote, “FBI took Bob” in the sand on Cruz Bay beach. Photo Courtesy of St. John Spice Cam
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents led a sweep across St. John by air and land on Friday, May 6, arresting eight people and seizing weapons and drugs.
Low flying black helicopters awoke several residents in the Coral Bay valley area around 6 a.m. on May 6 while on land other residents witnessed a black SUV pull over a red Suzuki Jeep on Centerline Road.
The Love City rumor mill was working over-time over the weekend, but details from the FBI remained sketchy as of press time. A short press release obtained late Saturday night was posted to the website www.stjohnsource.com on Sunday, May 8.
Citing information from FBI San Juan Special Agent in Charge Luis Fraticelli the on-line news site confirmed the arrests of Jerome Potter, Herbert Mason Ferguson Sr., Herbert Mason Ferguson Jr., Marisol Ferguson, Terrance Martin, Robert Shinners and Earl Skelton in connection with “violations of various narcotic trafficking charges” and remain in custody.
“Cocaine, marijuana and weapons were seized as the result of related search warrants, the press release indicated,” according to the St. John Source.
Potter, the Fergusons and Shinners were identified as St. John residents in the release. Potter was shot in the leg during his apprehension, according to wide-spread rumors.
Shinners is part-owner of Low Key Watersports and several residents reported seeing FBI agents descend on Wharfside Village as he was taken into custody.
A picture from the St. John Spice webcam at the Loredon Boynes Ferry Dock in Cruz Bay on Friday afternoon and posted to Facebook, showed sand writing spelling out “FBI took Bob” apparently about Shinners, who was often referred to as “Low Key Bob.”
The FBI did not work alone on last week’s Love City drug sweep. The case was a joint federal investigation involving the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Marshal Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Border Patrol, V.I. National Guard, British Virgin Islands Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Customs Air Marine Branch and V.I. Police Department, according to the St. John Source.
The men were scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, May 9, when more details about the sweep were expected. See next week’s St. John Tradewinds for more details on the arrests and FBI-led operation.
