USVI men arrested for possession of a firearm by convicted felons
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas, USVI— Rehelio Trant, 39, and Gamba Potter, 32, both of St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (USVI), made their initial appearances today before US Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in an indictment with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Gretchen C. F. Shappert announced today. Trant and Potter were detained pending further proceedings. Both are scheduled to be arraigned on Friday February 23, 2018.
According to the indictment, on September 8, 2017, the [US] Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) received a report from two individuals that Trant and Potter were in possession of firearms that they pointed at them during a robbery. The investigation revealed that Trant was previously convicted in the District Court of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and Potter was previously convicted in the Superior Court of unauthorised possession of a firearm. Neither Trant nor Potter are licensed in the district of the Virgin Islands to possess a firearm.
Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that an indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the VIPD. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
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