U.S. Virgin Islands – V.I. Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea, Esq. announces that Leon Swan, 46, of St. Thomas, was sentenced to the maximum term of nine (9) years in prison for Unauthorized Possession of Body Armor by a Person Convicted of a Violent Felony and Unauthorized Possession of Ammunition.
On February 20, 2025, The Honorable Judge Kathleen MacKay handed down the sentence following Swan’s conviction on both felony charges in V.I. Superior Court. The charges stem from a January 2024 domestic violence incident in which law enforcement responded to a disturbance in the Fireburn Hill area of St. Thomas. Upon arrival, officers encountered Swan wearing a military-style tactical helmet and black bulletproof body armor, while repeatedly threatening to kill both officers and family members at the scene. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, Possession of Body Armor by Violent Felon is prohibited. A National Crime Information Center (NCIC) records check revealed that Swan had prior convictions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) in the Southern District of Florida including ‘Attempting to Export Firearms from the United States / Unlawful Transport of Firearms’ and ‘Communicating Threats.’
Det. Danielle Greenaway-Thomas, of the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) Criminal Investigations Bureau, working in concert with H. Timothy Perry, Esq. DOJ Chief of the St. Thomas & St. John Criminal Division, secured a no-knock Search Warrant for Swan’s residence. The VIPD Special Response Team breached the door and, during the search, recovered a black Kevlar helmet and bullet proof vest, two black ski masks, ammunition and a black Taurus semi-automatic pistol.
Attorney General Rhea emphasized that this conviction reflects the dedication of Virgin Islands law enforcement to holding offenders accountable and protecting the community. He extended his appreciation to all those involved in the case, including Prosecutor Eugene James Connor, Jr., Esq., DOJ Assistant Attorney General for the St. Thomas & St. John Criminal Division; Elma Brathwaite, DOJ Victim Services Coordinator, for her support in assisting the domestic violence victim during sentencing testimony; and Detective Brian Bedminster of the VIPD Criminal Investigations Bureau, who served as the case agent.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2025
Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340) 774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov