Disassembled weapons; automatic firearm parts. Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
United States Attorney Delia Smith commended the diligent efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies following the successful sentencing of St. Croix resident Somalie Bruce. Bruce received a 120-month prison term for conspiracy to traffic firearms and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
"The manufacture of ‘ghost guns’ is intended to commit senseless acts of violence that are almost impossible to solve. I am therefore relieved that due to the excellent work of federal and local law enforcement partners, many lives have been saved," stated Attorney Smith.
Mr. Bruce, 37, came to the attention of authorities in March 2020, after a package he mailed from a local post office was intercepted by Customs and Border Protection and found to contain over a kilogram of cocaine. Investigations by law enforcement revealed that Bruce's girlfriend, Jeanorah Williams, had bought $65,000 worth of money orders made payable to several Florida and North Carolina gun manufacturers.
Over the course of 14 months, from May 2019 to July 2020, Bruce and Williams received over 70 packages of firearm parts from those manufacturers, including M-16 bolt assemblies, AR-15 barrels, and inserts to convert flare guns into firearms. Altogether, law enforcement agents recovered invoices totaling over $95,000, representing purchased of 200 parts and accessories used to build AR-15 rifles, M-16 rifles, and Glock handguns. Additional packages of firearm components were collected by Bruce and Williams from October to December 2020.
Although neither of the two are licensed firearms manufacturers, dealers or even holders, a search of their apartment yielded several fully-assembled firearms - five handguns and a shotgun among them. One of the weapons had an obliterated serial number, authorities indicate.
In addition to Mr. Bruce's sentence, handed down by Chief District Judge Robert Molloy, Williams pleaded guilty to engaging in the business of manufacturing firearms without a license. She is currently awaiting sentencing.
“The outcome of this investigation and significant sentence is a testament to the successful collaboration between our law enforcement agencies," said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations San Juan Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos. "The assembly of ghost guns pose a significant threat to the safety of Virgin Islanders. HSI has a firm stance against weapons trafficking and wants to make it clear that we will not tolerate weapons trafficking which is fueling violent crimes in the territory."
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