SF. CROIX — A Grenadian man has been sentenced for his role in an international drug-trafficking conspiracy intercepted in the Caribbean Sea. Rodney Dennis de Roche, 39, will serve 37 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release and must pay a $100 special assessment.

The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Wilma A. Lewis, follows de Roche’s guilty plea to conspiring to possess cocaine with intent to distribute while aboard a vessel under US jurisdiction.

According to court documents, the charges stem from an incident on November 14, 2023, when the US Coast Guard Cutter Diligence was patrolling international waters in the Eastern Caribbean Sea. About 116 nautical miles west of Fort-de-France, Martinique, officers intercepted the motor vessel Jackie Boy in a region known for drug trafficking. The vessel displayed no sign of nationality and ignored orders to stop.

As the Coast Guard approached, the ship’s occupants, including de Roche, began throwing packages tied to sandbags into the ocean. During the takeover, the police recovered approximately 32 kilograms of cocaine. All six people on board, including de Roche, Adel Munro, Arim Boniface (also known as Arkim Boniface), Dave Compton, Kevin Francis and Darryl Pope, were taken into custody.

The ship’s commander identified her as Grenadian, a claim verified by Grenadian officials. In addition, Grenada granted a waiver of jurisdiction, allowing the case to proceed under US law. The six defendants later pleaded guilty to their involvement in the cocaine-trafficking conspiracy.

De Roche’s sentence follows that of co-defendant Reinoza, who received 46 months in prison on August 28, 2024. Sentencing for the remaining defendants is pending.

The case was part of a larger effort to combat drug trafficking and organized crime in the region. The US Coast Guard and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) led the investigation, with the prosecution handled by Assistant US Attorney Daniel H. Huston.

This prosecution was undertaken as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative, a collaborative effort targeting high-level criminal organizations. Using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach, OCDETF works to dismantle criminal enterprises that threaten the United States. Additional information about the program is available on the Department of Justice website.

For updates and more information, visit the US Attorney’s website at justice.gov/usao-vi.