Jahmar Frederick, a 32-year-old resident of St. Croix, was sentenced on April 15 to 24 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper.
Frederick’s sentencing underscores ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address violent crime and enforce firearms laws in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The case highlights the collaboration between local and federal law enforcement agencies working to enhance community safety across the territory.
Court documents show that on May 11, 2024, a Virgin Islands Police Department officer observed a Ford F-150 pickup truck without a license plate near the Frontline Bar and Grill. The vehicle fled before losing control and sliding off the road. Frederick, identified as the driver, attempted to evade officers by pulling a ski mask over his face and fleeing on foot but was apprehended after falling. Officers found him carrying a fanny pack containing a black Glock model 22 Gen4 .40 caliber firearm with an extended magazine loaded with ammunition.
Frederick has three prior felony convictions: forgery in 2018; failing to report firearms obtained outside or brought into the Virgin Islands also in 2018; and obtaining money by false pretenses in 2023.
The investigation was conducted jointly by Homeland Security Investigations and the Virgin Islands Police Department, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry prosecuted the case for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Virgin Islands improves public safety through coordination with law enforcement agencies and crime prevention initiatives according to its official website. Its operations extend across St. Thomas and St. Croix as part of its mandate within the United States Department of Justice according to its official website. The office enforces federal laws through criminal prosecutions and civil litigation aimed at protecting national security throughout all areas of the territory according to its official website.
