Crime

St. Croix Man Previously Convicted of Felony Pleads Guilty to Firearm Charge in Federal Court

ST. CROIX — U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced Thursday that Lionel Woodley, 35, of St. Croix, appeared before Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon, Jr., in U.S. District Court on St. Croix and entered a guilty plea on Friday to the charge of felon in possession of firearm. According to court documents, on March 17, 2019, Virgin Islands Police Department officers stopped the vehicle driven by Woodley at around 11:30 p.m. for failing to observe a stop sign and passing on a double yellow line. During the traffic stop, V.I.P.D. officers noticed the odor of marijuana emanating from Woodley’s vehicle. The officers searched the vehicle and located a revolver in the center console, a bag on the front seat containing approximately 20 grams of marijuana, approximately 7 grams of cocaine, along with $105.00, and a scale. Police also found and seized $701 on Woodley’s person. Woodley did not have a license to possess the firearm and had previously been convicted of the felony offense o...