CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix man who used to sell marijuana out of his Jeep near a convenience store in Sion Farm pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal use of a firearm, authorities said.
Rakem “Kimby” Hendrickson, 28, of St. Croix, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon, Jr., in U.S. District Court and entered a guilty plea to the charge of use of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said today.
This offense carries a possible sentence of incarceration for a minimum of five years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000 dollars, and a term of supervised release up to five years.
Sentencing is set for April 14, 2021.
According to court documents, on February 16, 2018, the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) received a tip from a concerned citizen that Hendrickson was selling drugs from his Jeep Wrangler.
The documents also indicate that Hendrickson was known to carry a firearm, and that he routinely parked the Jeep in the vicinity of Dynasty (Paul’s) Grocery Store in Estate Sion Farm.
VIPD officers set up surveillance at that location and thereafter observed Hendrickson, park and exit his vehicle.
Officers observed drug paraphernalia consisting of a clear plastic bag containing multiple vials in plain view, located in the back of Hendrickson’s Jeep.
Shortly thereafter, officers obtained and executed a search warrant. As a result, officers located and confiscated a loaded Glock 22 Austria handgun, two additional magazines, 82 rounds of ammunition, approximately 133 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia in the form of 94 plastic vials, a digital scale, two mason jars, plastic baggies, and $2,584 cash.
The foregoing occurred within 1,000 feet of the Lew Muckle Elementary School in Sion Farm.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The DEA Southeast Laboratory in Miami analyzed the marijuana.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston prosecuted the case.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-vi/pr/st-croix-man-arrested-firearm-and-drug-charges