From left, mugshots of Jamari Gumbs, Orlando Reyes and Naiguan Frett. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — Bail has been set for three men found in possession of an unlicensed firearm.
Jamari Gumbs, 18, Orlando Reyes, 19, and Naiguan Frett, 23 were each charged with constructive possession of a firearm as well as possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, the three were arrested on Saturday night by officers who were retrieving evidence from a location in Estate Adrian where a firearm was illegally discharged. The officers traversing the area observed a vehicle driving slowly in their direction and commanded the driver of the vehicle to exit. At the time, the officers were reportedly in the company of the individual who was shot at, as well as the owner of a car rental company who had reported two of his vehicles stolen.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Naiguan Frett complied with instructions from law enforcement to exit the vehicle. He then told police that he was driving in the area when he encountered two men he knew at the side of the road. He claimed that he stopped to give them a ride and later took a wrong turn which led him to the area where they were met by police. Officers also found a man later identified as Jamari Gumbs in the front passenger seat and another identified as Orlando Reyes in the back seat. The fact sheet states that Reyes used profanities at the officers, while Gumbs refused to exit the vehicle. The two were described as noncompliant.
Although they both refused to be detained, police eventually handcuffed them while their foul language continued. According to the fact sheet, Gumbs stated that he had only come to the area because someone stole his phone and he tracked it to that location. However, the business owner identified Gumbs as the individual who had attempted to drive away in his taxi bus earlier, before colliding with a parked vehicle. He presented police with a cellphone bearing a picture of Gumbs, which he said fell inside the taxi as Gumbs hurriedly attempted to exit.
A search of the vehicle later revealed a Glock 26 9 X 19 with an obliterated serial number and 14 rounds located under the front passenger seat where Gumbs sat. A firearm license check was conducted and it was determined that none of the three individuals were authorized to own or carry a weapon. According to the fact sheet, none of the men claimed ownership of the firearm which police described as being in close proximity to each of them in the vehicle. They were each charged and turned over to the Bureau of Corrections to await their advisement hearings on Monday. According to the fact sheet, additional charges are pending against Reyes and Gumbs which require further investigations.
At their hearings on Monday, bail for Reyes and Frett was set at $30,000 each with an allowance for their release upon the posting of 10 percent. While bail for Gumbs was also set at $30,000, he did not receive the 10 percent provision granted to his co-defendants. This is because he was reportedly in violation of release conditions in another matter at the time of his arrest. The judge revealed that those conditions were imposed only last month when Gumbs was arrested on separate ammunition charges. All three defendants have been put on an 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew and have been prohibited from going to the car rental company.
