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ST. THOMAS — John Michael Burgos, 20, of St. Thomas, appeared on Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for an arraignment on an indictment charging him with unlawful possession of a machinegun, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. After a detention hearing held the same day, Judge Miller ordered Burgos detained.
According to court documents, on Monday, federal agents encountered Burgos in the area of the Tutu Park Mall, where he fled from agents. When Burgos eventually surrendered, agents discovered a 30-round extended magazine in his pants pocket and a fully loaded Glock pistol equipped with an auto sear—a conversion device that renders the pistol fully automatic (i.e., a machinegun)—on the ground, underneath a van he had been seen crouching behind. Burgos had $800,000 in cash in a duffle bag in his vehicle. During an interview with federal agents, Burgos admitted that the Glock pistol with the auto sear was his.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith J. Edwards.
United States Attorney Shappert 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 found guilty.
