St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty To Being A Felon In Possession Of A Firearm

St. Croix — Misael Melendez, aka Salao, 50, on Thursday pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Above, a .22 caliber.

According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on February 11, 2015, Mr. Melendez sold a stolen .22 caliber rifle to an undercover informant. Mr. Melendez had been previously convicted in 2009 of the felony of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in the District Court of the Virgin Islands.

Mr. Melendez faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has been set for June 1, 2016.

The case is the result of months of investigative work by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virgin Islands Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Stringer.