NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015
Man Charged in District Court with Firearm Offenses
St. Thomas, USVI - Tashimo Scatliffe, 33, made his initial appearance in District Court Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged with two counts of Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm and Reckless Endangerment, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Scatliffe is in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Aug. 20, 2015.
According to the Indictment, which was filed August 6, 2015 in District Court on St. Thomas, Scatliffe was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition after he was convicted in the Superior Court of first-degree assault-larceny.
Scatliffe is charged with violations of both federal and Virgin Islands law. For the federal charges, the maximum sentence for Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon or Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, t h e m a x i m u m s e n t e n c e i s 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Under Virgin Islands law, the maximum sentence for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon is 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. For Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm, the maximum sentence is five years in prison and a $15,000 fine; for Reckless Endangerment, the maximum sentence isfive years in prison. For Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, there is a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that an indictment 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.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
