CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A convicted felon who admitted to authorities he had a loaded semi-automatic gun and ammunition in his vehicle after a domestic dispute on St. Croix pleaded guilty to illegal gun-related charges in federal court.
Deshawn Gonsalves, 26, of St. Croix, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.
According to court documents, on October 31, 2018, officers with the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) responded to an apparent domestic dispute and 911 call at the Lorraine Village Apartments in Estates Plessen and Grove Place.
Upon their interaction with Gonsalves, he admitted that he possessed a firearm and ammunition in his vehicle.
A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded Glock .45 caliber handgun, 2 additional magazines, 77 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, and about 98 grams of marihuana packaged in plastic baggies and vials.
Gonsalves was previously convicted in Superior Court in 2014 of unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Gonsalves faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Sentencing is set for February 12, 2021.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Huston.