Man Charged in District Court with Firearm Offenses

St. Thomas, USVI – Achille Heywood, 32, made his initial appearance Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in a four-count Information with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, Possession with Intent to Distribute Narcotics and Use of a Firearm During the Commission of Drug Trafficking, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Heywood was released after posting 10% of a $35,000 bond.

According to the Information, which was filed June 16 in District Court on St. Thomas, Heywood was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition after he was convicted in the Superior Court of unauthorized possession of a firearm.

If convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon or Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, Heywood faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of Possession with intent to Distribute Narcotics, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and $1million fine. For Use of a Firearm during the Commission of Drug Trafficking, Heywood faces a mandatory consecutive sentence of five years in prison.

United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that an Information 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.