A 19-year-old Jamaican man has been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after his conviction in Maryland for carrying a loaded handgun.
Maryland’s gun law violation
Reports are that ICE officers, part of Baltimore’s Criminal Apprehension Program, arrested the individual at his residence in Hyattsville, Maryland. They have since issued him a notice to appear before an immigration judge.
“This Jamaican non-citizen blatantly ignored Maryland’s gun laws by carrying a loaded handgun in public,” said Darius Reeves, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore acting Field Office Director.
“Had we not apprehended him, he could have easily wreaked havoc on the residents of Maryland. ERO Baltimore will continue to exhaust our resources to provide safe communities for the people of Maryland,” he added.
Conviction and sentencing
According to reports, the Jamaican man legally entered the US through Miami International Airport in May 2011.
He faced arrest charges earlier this year in February for possession of a loaded firearm.
Reports are that on June 29, the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County in Upper Marlboro found him guilty, resulting in a 23-month jail sentence.
This is set to be followed by three years of supervised probation.
ICE authorities emphasize their commitment to ensuring the safety of Maryland’s residents, pointing to this case as an example of their effort to uphold the law and safeguard communities from potential harm.
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