Dominican Republic Native Gets 1.16 Years For Firing Gun During Domestic Dispute On St. Thomas

CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A federal court judge this week sentenced a 37-year-old Dominicano man to one year and two months in prison on gun and illegal entry charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez on Monday sentenced Eilin Montano-Castillo of the Dominican Republic to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien, U.S. Attorney Ronald Sharpe said.
On May 8, 2015, Castillo pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Court records show that in November 2014, Castillo, who is an illegal immigrant with no authority to be in the United States or possess a firearm, possessed and discharged a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Castillo discharged the firearm in a residential area on St. Thomas in connection with a domestic dispute. After discharging the firearm, Castillo attempted to dispose of it, but law enforcement agents recovered the gun.
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment on March 5, 2015, charging Castillo with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and illegal entry by an alien, Sharpe said.
Castillo was arrested on November 17, 2014, and remains in custody while he awaits transfer to prison.
Castillo faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the possession of a firearm by an illegal alien charge. He faced a maximum penalty of five years in prison for possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and a maximum of six months in prison on the illegal entry charge.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David White.

U.S. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez
No Comment