Kellon Fortune, 31, was arrested by police in Road Town on March 1, 2022.

4 rifles & 1 pistol allegedly seized

According to the charges, the four prohibited weapons were multicaliber rifles while the unlicensed firearm was a FN Herstal Belgium Pistol.

The indictable complaints are that Mr Fortune between February 19, 2022, and March 1, 2022, at Havers Estate had in his possession the said firearms.

Crown Counsel Lyn Dailey also stated that Immigration Department has notified that Mr Fortune has been residing illegally in the territory since August 2021, although this was contested by his attorney Stephen R. Daniels.

Mr Daniels said Mr Fortune resided most of his life in the Virgin Islands with his mother and returned to the territory in August 2021 after spending some time in Orlando, Florida.

He said his client, an IT Technician, was married to a local and has two minor children. It was later pointed out by the Prosecution that the wife and children were not residing in the Virgin Islands.

Attorney Daniels provided to the court documents showing the date Mr Fortune arrived in the territory and that nowhere did Immigration state any time restriction on his passport.

Further, he said his client has ‘Labour exemption’.

Defendant a flight risk- Magistrate

Meanwhile, Magistrate Palmer sided with the Crown that the offences were serious and that Mr Fortune did not have enough ties to the territory, which makes him a flight risk.

Bail was denied and the matter is scheduled for report on Thursday, April 28, 2022.