The US District Judge Steven D. Merryday has handed down a prison sentence of four years and nine months to two Trinidad and Tobago citizens, followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for their conspiracy to unlawfully export goods from the United States.
Tevin OBrian Oliver, aged 30, and Jameal Kaia Phillip, 31, not only received sentences but also conceded to the forfeiture of multiple firearms, ammunition, and related equipment that had been used in the criminal activities.
The duo pleaded guilty to the crimes earlier this year on April 11.
According to media reports, Oliver and Phillip played key roles in an organized network that specialized in the illegal transportation of firearms, their components such as upper/lower receivers and gun parts kits, and associated items from Florida to their home country of Trinidad and Tobago over the span of 2019 to 2022.
How firearms were smuggled undetected
Reports are that smuggled goods, an assortment of pistols, long rifles, and related equipment, were hidden inside boxing equipment, speakers, and various household items in order to evade detection by the vigilant eyes of law enforcement and customs personnel.
In their efforts to further deceive authorities, the convicts also made straw purchases from various firearm sellers, providing false identification of the actual buyers and recipients of the weapons, as well as misrepresenting their ultimate destination.
The court was made aware of an instance on April 7, 2021, when Oliver shipped a package from Miami, Florida to Trinidad and Tobago.
Concealed within were several firearms and related equipment, including a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol, a SAR Arms SAR-9 9mm pistol, a Taurus G3 9mm pistol, and a Ruger Security-9 9mm pistol.
Critical seizure: April 2021 shipment halted at Piarco International Airport
The items were later seized by Trinidadian authorities at Piarco International Airport on or about April 22, 2021.
“Dismantling this illicit weapons trafficking network makes a significant impact toward lowering crime and gun violence in Trinidad and Tobago, and the Caribbean,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt.
“These sentences demonstrate the commitment of HSI, alongside our federal and Caribbean nation partners and the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, to be steadfast in investigating and shutting down illegal firearms smuggling from the US,” Pagitt added.
The case saw the involvement of several law enforcement agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), HSI’s Attaché (Caribbean), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of National Security and Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, US Customs and Border Protection, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided invaluable assistance in the operation.
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