CRUZ BAY — An Iraq war veteran who allegedly phoned in repeated bomb threats to a St. John beach bar was arrested on Tuesday, federal authorities said.
Gilbert “Gil” Brady, 54, of New York, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on federal criminal charges related to making bomb threats after he was “banned” from attending the bar business on St. John, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.
According to court documents, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Brady after telephone calls were made to the Virgin Islands Territory Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) 911 call center and the Beach Bar, in Wharfside Village, St. John stating that explosives were left at the Beach Bar.
On March 20, 2022, an unidentified male called 911 to report that he had left a “package with a timer on it” at the Beach Bar in St. John. The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) responded and evacuated the premises. No device was discovered.
On March 23, 2022, an unidentified male called the Beach Bar and stated that he had placed an explosive under the stage and that it would detonate in 45 minutes. Employees recognized the caller as Brady who had recently been banned from the Beach Bar.
Shortly thereafter, an unidentified caller called 911 and stated that, “whatever is under the stage at the Beach Bar in St. John is going to detonate and injure an awful lot of people.”
Again, the Beach Bar was evacuated, and no explosive was found. The 911 caller was later identified as Brady, who was allegedly homeless at the time.
Brady is charged with willfully making a threat involving an explosive pursuant to 18 U.S.C § 844(e). If convicted, Brady faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Asked for comment, Mr. Brady told the Virgin Islands Free Press: “I would not, could not, and did not have anything to do with these alleged disturbing crimes against public safety.”
“I served in the military (2008-2016) for the 41st infantry brigade of the Oregon National Guard and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army after completing a tour of Iraq (2009-10),” Brady continued. “I also hold a master’s degree in Applied Psychology from Portland State University. At the time of my arrest, I was renting a car and seeking VA medical care on St. Thomas for an injured arm after a workplace accident on St. John. At that time, I had been staying at Bluebeard’s Castle and had a rental on Bordeaux (St. John). Though there is nothing per se incriminating about one’s housing status, I was not, as alleged by the Beach Bar employee or employees, ‘homeless.'”
“Please make it clear that neither I nor my friends and family are in any way, shape, or form condoning, justifying, defending or excusing whomever made the anonymous 911 phone calls last March that effectively shut down and terrorized Cruz Bay. Personally, I encourage all those involved, or anyone with any knowledge about nature and origins of these calls and threats, to cooperate fully with investigators and the press so as to bring those responsible to justice.”
The FBI is investigating the case. The case is scheduled for trial in St. Thomas.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.