ST. THOMAS -- Tashimo Scatliffe, 33, made his initial appearance in District Court Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged with two counts of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of an unlicensed firearm and reckless endangerment, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
Scatliffe is in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for August 20, 2015.
According to the indictment, which was filed August 6, 2015 in District Court on St. Thomas, Scatliffe was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition after he was convicted in the Superior Court of first-degree assault-larceny.
Scatliffe is charged with violations of both federal and Virgin Islands law. For the federal charges, the maximum sentence for possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, the maximum sentence is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Under Virgin Islands law, the maximum sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. For possession of an unlicensed firearm, the maximum sentence is five years in prison and a $15,000 fine; for reckless endangerment, the maximum sentence is five years in prison. For possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, there is a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years.
United States Attorney Sharpe 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 proven guilty.
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
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