Crime

Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Possession of Body Armor and Ammunition After Police Standoff and Threats to Family

ST. THOMAS — A St. Thomas man has been sentenced to the maximum term of nine years in prison after being convicted of unauthorized possession of body armor by a person convicted of a violent felony and unauthorized possession of ammunition. According to V.I. Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea, 46-year-old Leon Swan was sentenced by V.I. Superior Court Judge Kathleen MacKay on February 20, following his conviction on both felony charges. The case stemmed from a domestic violence incident in January 2024 in which law enforcement responded to reports of a disturbance in the Fireburn Hill area of St. Thomas. When officers arrived, they encountered Swan wearing a military-style tactical helmet and black bulletproof body armor. During the encounter, Swan allegedly made repeated threats to kill both the responding officers and family members at the scene. Under U.S. Virgin Islands law, individuals convicted of violent felonies are prohibited from possessing body armor. A National Crime Inform...