ST. THOMAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Virgin Islands), published as received.
ST. THOMAS – U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced that Kenneth Turbe, age 42, was arrested on, July 23, 2026, in St. Thomas, USVI on criminal charges related to a marijuana grow operation on his property. Turbe is charged with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance pursuant to 21 U.S.C §§ 841(a)(1) and 846.
According to court documents, Turbe was arrested after agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) obtained search warrants for Turbe’s iCloud account and residence. The iCloud account contained photos of vacuum sealed bags of marijuana, marijuana plants, large black planter pots containing marijuana plants, and bags of marijuana inside a safe.
Following Turbe’s arrest, DEA agents seized over 100 suspected marijuana plants, including 40 recently harvested plants.
The DEA is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik C. Tate of the Unites States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
