United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NOV 20  (WEST PALM BEACH, FL) - Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in (SAC), Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division; Vito S. Guarino, SAC, DEA, Caribbean Division; and Angel M. Melendez, SAC, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security (ICE-HSI), San Juan and U.S. Virgin Islands; Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Ronald W. Sharpe, United States Attorney for the District of the Virgin Islands announce the indictment of Dwight Iva Durant, 44, a Transportation Security (TSA) Supervisor, and Shawn Dowe, 29, both of the Virgin Islands, for their alleged participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Defendant Durant was arrested yesterday in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, where he made his initial appearance in federal court today.  Dowe was arrested in California and will make his initial appearance in federal court tomorrow.  The indictment was returned in Miami, Florida, where the defendants will stand trial.

The indictment, filed on November 14, 2013, and unsealed yesterday, charges Dwight Iva Durant and Shawn Dowe, each, with conspiracy to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine and aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846. If convicted, the defendants each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a possible statutory maximum sentence of life.

This investigation was conducted by the DEA West Palm Beach Task (WPBTF), DEA St. Thomas Resident Office, ICE-HSI, Sunrise Police Department, and TSA.  The WPBTF is comprised of the following agencies: DEA, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, West Palm Beach Police Department, Jupiter Police Department, Delray Beach Police Department, Boynton Beach Police Department, and North Bay Village Police Department,

An indictment is only an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.