ST. THOMAS — A St. Thomas man has been sentenced to the maximum term of nine years in prison after being convicted of unauthorized possession of body armor by a person convicted of a violent felony and unauthorized possession of ammunition.
According to V.I. Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea, 46-year-old Leon Swan was sentenced by V.I. Superior Court Judge Kathleen MacKay on February 20, following his conviction on both felony charges.
The case stemmed from a domestic violence incident in January 2024 in which law enforcement responded to reports of a disturbance in the Fireburn Hill area of St. Thomas. When officers arrived, they encountered Swan wearing a military-style tactical helmet and black bulletproof body armor. During the encounter, Swan allegedly made repeated threats to kill both the responding officers and family members at the scene.
Under U.S. Virgin Islands law, individuals convicted of violent felonies are prohibited from possessing body armor. 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. These convictions included attempting to export firearms from the United States/unlawful transport of firearms and communicating threats.
The V.I. Police Department Criminal Investigations Bureau, led by Detective Danielle Greenaway-Thomas, along 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 executed the warrant and, during their search, recovered a black Kevlar helmet and bulletproof vest, two black ski masks, ammunition, and a black Taurus semi-automatic pistol.
A.G. Rhea emphasized that Swan’s conviction and sentencing reflect law enforcement’s commitment to protecting the community and holding offenders accountable. He extended his appreciation to the legal and investigative teams 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, who provided support to the domestic violence victim during sentencing testimony; and Detective Brian Bedminster of the VIPD Criminal Investigations Bureau, who served as the case agent.
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