Two men in separate cases pleaded guilty Monday in District Court on St. Thomas to charges of violating firearm laws, U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe reported.
Ja’moi Khadeem Corraspe, 22, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to ship firearms with obliterated serial numbers, Sharpe said.
According to the plea agreement, between August 6 and October 7, 2013, Corraspe conspired with others to unlawfully mail firearms with obliterated serial numbers from Jacksonville, Fla., to St. Thomas. He directed the shipping of two firearms from Jacksonville to St. Thomas: a Smith and Wesson, Model SD40VE, .40 caliber pistol, and a Glock, Model 20, 10mm pistol, both with obliterated serial numbers.
Corraspe is not a federal licensed firearms dealer and is not authorized to possess the two firearms in the Virgin Islands.
He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
In the second case, Lued Browne, 44, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to Sharpe.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 4.
According to the plea agreement, on May 22, Virgin Islands Police Department officers responded to a report that a vehicle was blocking the exit at Antilles School. Upon arrival at the scene, officers saw Browne, the sole occupant of the vehicle, sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The officers also saw a firearm between the driver’s seat and center console of the vehicle. They immediately confiscated the gun.
Further investigation revealed that Browne has a prior felony conviction and could not legally possess a firearm in the Virgin Islands. Browne faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
Both cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
