Jamaican behind big gun shipment sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in US prison

Jermaine Rhooms, the Jamaican man who pleaded guilty in relation to a shipment of 15 guns and ammunition to Jamaica has been sentenced to four years and nine months in a United States prison.

The sentence was handed down in a Tampa, Florida courtroom.

Jamaica's director of public prosecution Paula Llewellyn attended the hearing to provide a victim impact statement on illegal arms imports in Jamaica.

The barrel containing seven high-powered rifles, eight handguns and thousands of rounds of ammunition was seized at a container warehouse in Kingston on July 20, 2017.

READ: Jamaican pleads guilty to trafficking arms

Rhooms’ sentence marks the culmination of a joint investigation between the Jamaican police and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.

He had been living illegally in the United States.

In May 2008, Rhooms was deported from the United Kingdom to Jamaica after two drug-related convictions in April 2002 and February 2006, according to police sources.

But months later, he reportedly ‘moved’ to the US and was arrested on drug charges in Florida in February 2018.

What the shipment comprised:

1. Norinco Sporter rifle 
2. FEG SA85M rifle
3. American Tactical Omni Hybrid rifle
4. Anderson Manufacturing rifle
5. Anderson Manufacturing rifle 
6. Anderson Manufacturing rifle
7. STAG-15 rifle 
8. LC9s 9mm pistol
9. Smith & Wesson Pistol  
10. Ruger Pistol 
11. Ruger Clay 9 mm Pistol  
12. Ruger ​Pistol ​
13. Springfield Pistol 
14. ASTRA Pistol  
15. RSA Ent. Inc. Pistol 
16. Assorted rounds of ammunition
17. Gun cleaning kit
18. Ballistic vest 

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us @onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.