Jahkeem Perez, 24, appeared in Virgin Islands Superior Court on Feb. 27 for an advice of rights hearing after his arrest on firearm-related charges. Perez faces counts of carrying a firearm openly or concealed, possession or sale of ammunition, and alteration of identifying marks on a weapon, Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea announced.
A judge set Perez’s bail at $50,000, requiring a $5,000 payment for release, and ordered him to house arrest with a curfew and a third-party custodian, according to the press release.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, the charges stem from a Feb. 26 incident when an off-duty Virgin Islands Police Department officer observed a man sitting under a tree in the Matthew Charles area with a handgun fitted with an extended magazine. The officer reported that the man placed the firearm into a dark-colored backpack and handed it to another male, who then placed the bag on the front seat of an unregistered white Honda Accord before driving toward Profit Hill.
VIPD officers located and stopped the Honda Accord. The driver, later identified as Perez, was the sole occupant. Officers observed the backpack on the front seat, ordered Perez out of the vehicle, and conducted a search. Inside the backpack, officers found a Smith & Wesson revolver, a Glock 19, multiple magazines, two plastic bags containing 46 grams of marijuana, and $570 in cash.
When asked whether he had ever held a firearm license in the Virgin Islands, Perez answered, “No.” He was then taken into custody.
The off-duty officer also reported that the first male had discarded another handgun into nearby bushes before leaving the area. Officers recovered a black handgun with an extended magazine but were unable to locate the second suspect.
During the hearing, V.I. Justice Department Criminal Chief Amie Simpson argued that the altered firearms, lack of license plates, and suspected efforts to transport weapons posed a significant public safety risk. The DOJ, in collaboration with VIPD, continues to investigate the case and potential additional suspects.
