A federal jury in St. Thomas District Court today found Jace Clendinen, 31, guilty of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the evidence presented at the two-day trial, on Sept. 1, 2014, VIPD officers were in the area of the Smith Bay ballpark during Labor Day J’ouvert activities when they witnessed an ammunition magazine fall from a flatbed truck carrying the band providing the event’s musical entertainment.
Officers ordered everyone off the truck to determine who had a firearm.
Clendinen proceeded to jump from the truck and rapidly walked away from the area; however, he was pursued by police, who discovered a Fabrique Nationale firearm with an obliterated serial number in his pant leg.
Clendinen faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. His sentencing is set for May 25.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Everard E. Potter and Segrid T. Sprotte.
Tags: firearm conviction virgin islands district court
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