Tequan Joseph, 23, pleaded guilty Monday in District Court on St. Thomas to conspiracy to ship firearms with obliterated serial numbers and unlawful transportation of those firearms, U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
Joseph also pleaded guilty to a Middle District of Florida charge of making a false statement in connection with purchase of a firearm, Sharpe said.
Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 25.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, between Aug. 10, 2013, and Oct. 7, 2013, Joseph conspired with others to unlawfully purchase firearms and mail those firearms with obliterated serial numbers from Jacksonville, Fla., to St. Thomas, Sharpe said. A total of six firearms were shipped and recovered.
Joseph is not a federal licensed firearms dealer and is not authorized to possess those firearms in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Joseph faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the Middle District of Florida firearms charge.
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. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
