St. Croix, VI – Shabukah Bannis, a resident of St. Croix, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for the unlawful possession of a machine gun. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis on June 20, 2025.
The case originated from a traffic stop conducted by the Virgin Islands Police Department on November 30, 2023. Officers detected the smell of marijuana during the stop and upon questioning, Bannis admitted to having marijuana in his vehicle. This admission led to a search that uncovered both marijuana and a loaded machine gun with an obliterated serial number hidden under the driver's seat.
Judge Lewis highlighted the seriousness of the offense by stating that "the message must be loud, clear, and unmistakable—the possession of these types of weapons of war cannot and will not be tolerated in this community."
The investigation was carried out by the Virgin Islands Police Department along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Cherrisse R. Woods prosecuted the case.
This sentencing is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities.
