U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Man Charged in District Court with Firearm Offenses
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Virgin Islands
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Man Charged in District Court with Firearm Offenses
St. Thomas, USVI – Tashimo Scatliffe, 33, made his initial appearance in District Court Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged with two counts of Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm and Reckless Endangerment, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Scatliffe is in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for August 20, 2015.
According to the Indictment, which was filed August 6, 2015 in District Court on St. Thomas, Scatliffe was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition after he was convicted in the Superior Court of first-degree assault-larceny.
Scatliffe is charged with violations of both federal and Virgin Islands law. For the federal charges, the maximum sentence for Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon or Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, t h e m a x i m u m s e n t e n c e i s 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Under Virgin Islands law, the maximum sentence for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon is 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. For Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm, the maximum sentence is five years in prison and a $15,000 fine; for Reckless Endangerment, the maximum sentence isfive years in prison. For Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, there is a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years.
United States Attorney Sharpe 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.
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
Updated August 18, 2015
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