St. Croix Man Confronted in a Domestic Dispute Pleads Guilty to Firearm Charge

St. Thomas, USVI – Deshawn Gonsalves, 26, of St. Croix, pled guilty in District Court to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.

According to court documents, on October 31, 2018, officers with the Virgin Islands Police Department responded to an apparent domestic dispute and 911 call at the Lorraine Village Apartments outside of Frederiksted. Upon their interaction with Gonsalves, he admitted that he possessed a firearm and ammunition in his vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded Glock .45 caliber handgun, 2 additional magazines, 77 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, and approximately 98 grams of marihuana packaged in plastic baggies and vials.

Gonsalves was previously convicted in Superior Court in 2014 of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm.
Gonsalves faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. Sentencing is set for February 12, 2021.

The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston.