St. Thomas, USVI - Eugene Monsanto, Jr., 40, made his initial appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged in a complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced. Monsanto was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service after preliminary and detention hearings today pending further proceedings.
According to the complaint, on Monday, May 30, 2016, Monsanto, who was aboard the M/V Sundance Queen, presented himself for inspection at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) St. John Port of Entry. A CBP officer conducted a routine inspection and found a fully loaded.38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver inside of Monsanto’s carry-on.
Under federal law if convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, Monsanto faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim L. Chisholm.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
