Federal Jury Convicts Crucian Man For Possessing “Glock switch” Machine Gun

St. Croix, USVI – U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that a federal jury convicted Ervin Noel Jr, 22, of St. Croix, for Possession of a Machinegun, 18 U.S.C. § 922(o), and Reckless Endangerment, 14 V.I.C. § 625(a). The defendant faces a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment. The Chief District Court Judge, Robert A. Molloy, will schedule a sentencing hearing to determine the sentence to be imposed. 
 
According to court documents and testimony presented at trial, on February 28, 2025, the defendant was a passenger in a vehicle when he shot a firearm three times into the air endangering the community while he traveled down a road in Frederiksted, St. Croix. The defendant was subsequently arrested on May 9, 2025, in connection with that incident. During his arrest, Noel was the sole passenger in a car in which Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) officers found a firearm under the seat where Noel was seated. Noel admitted to possessing the firearm. The firearm was outfitted with a device known as a “Glock switch” or “chip” that converted the firearm into a fully automatic machine gun. At trial, the jury saw cell phone videos of Noel displaying his modified firearm which was attached with a 50-round drum magazine. 
 
This case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maritn Forrest and Senior Litigation Counsel Meredith Edwards.