Foreign National from Trinidad Previously Convicted of Federal Felonies Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry into the United States

St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Allan Browne, a citizen of Trinidad, appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller in the District Court and entered a guilty plea to the charge of illegal re-entry of a removed alien. He faces up to twenty years in federal prison.

According to court documents, on April 8, 2021, Browne appeared at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) primary inspection checkpoint at the Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Browne was a ticketed passenger on an American Airlines Flight traveling to Miami, Florida.

During the inspection, Browne presented a Pennsylvania driver’s license bearing the name Antonio S. Brown and a date of birth, neither of which belonged to him. CBP officers asked Browne if he were a citizen of the United States or a legal permanent resident, to which he replied that he was a legal permanent resident. Browne claimed he possessed a legal permanent resident card, but that it was not with him. Based on record checks conducted using Browne’s fingerprints, officers ascertained that Browne had no legal basis to remain in the United States.

Court records show that Browne was previously convicted in the Eastern District of New York for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. He was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment on June 28, 2013. Browne was removed from the United States following his custodial sentence. Officers also discovered that Browne was removed from the U.S. as recently as last year, after re-entering the United States illegally. Officers conducted record checks and verified that Browne was not a citizen of the United States and found no information showing Browne was granted any documentation to enter or remain in the U.S.

This case is being investigated by CBP and Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Juan A. Albino.