CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix son whose mother told authorities she found a gun in his backpack after she dropped him off for a Superior Court appearance got three years in prison on Thursday.
Serjio Alexander Rijo-Feliz, 27, of St. Croix, was sentenced to 36 months of incarceration for possession of a firearm while under indictment, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said today.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis at the courthouse in Golden Rock also ordered Rijo-Feliz to pay a fine in the amount of $1,000.00, to supervised release for three years and to pay a special assessment of $100.00.
According to a plea agreement, and documents filed with the court, on October 2, 2018 Rijo-Feliz’ mother entered the Marshal Command Police Station, Christiansted, St. Croix, and reported that she found a firearm in his backpack which was in her car.
She had just dropped Rijo-Feliz off at the Superior Court in Kingshill to sign in with the Probation Office. After discovering the firearm, she drove away while Rijo-Feliz was still at the courthouse.
A subsequent search of the backpack revealed a 9mm Sturm Ruger handgun with one live round in the chamber and twenty live rounds in the attached magazine.
An extended magazine with thirty 9mm live cartridges was also found inside the backpack along with a black ski mask, black wallet with a driver’s license and other ID’s belonging to Rijo-Feliz.
Subsequent to his arrest, Rijo-Feliz admitted ownership and possession of the firearm. At the time of the search, Rijo-Feliz was facing charges of Assault Third Degree and Possession of a Firearm During a Violent Crime in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.
He had no license to possess a firearm in the Virgin Islands, according to Shappert.
Rijo-Feliz also claimed on social media that: 1) he worked as a cook for Lenas Pizza Bar & Grille in Bayamon, Puerto Rico; 2) he studied “777” at the University of the Virgin Islands; 3) he went to St. Croix Central High School; and 4) he lives in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso Andrews, Jr.
https://www.facebook.com/serjioalexander.rijofelix
Way to go!!!
I was kind of hoping that the rest of the mothers out there follow suit…….
Way to go!!!
I was kind of wondering that mothers who know about their child/children’s criminal activities will follow suit…….
Way to go!!!
Now, all mothers who are aware of their child’s criminal activities should follow suit…….