St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands – A federal jury has convicted Ervin Noel Jr., age 22, of St. Croix, on charges of possession of a machine gun in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(o) and reckless endangerment under 14 V.I.C. § 625(a). The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper for the District of the Virgin Islands.
According to court documents and testimony presented at trial, on February 28, 2025, Noel was a passenger in a vehicle traveling down a road in Frederiksted, St. Croix, when he fired three shots into the air. This act was found to have endangered the local community.
Noel was arrested on May 9, 2025, in connection with the shooting incident. At the time of his arrest, Virgin Islands Police Department officers discovered a firearm beneath the seat where Noel was seated. Noel admitted to possessing the firearm.
Crucially, the firearm was modified with a device commonly referred to as a “Glock switch” or “chip,” which converts a semi-automatic Glock pistol into a fully automatic machine gun. During the trial, the jury viewed cell phone videos showing Noel displaying the modified firearm, which was equipped with a 50-round drum magazine.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Martin Forrest and Senior Litigation Counsel Meredith Edwards.
Chief District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy will schedule a sentencing hearing to determine Noel’s punishment. Under federal law, possession of a machine gun carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment.
This conviction underscores the federal government’s commitment to enforcing firearms laws in the U.S. Virgin Islands and addressing the illegal possession and use of modified automatic weapons.
Additional recent enforcement actions announced by U.S. Attorney Sleeper include sentencing outcomes for other defendants in the District of the Virgin Islands, reflecting ongoing efforts to combat violent crime in the territory.
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Federal Jury Finds St. Croix Man Guilty of Possessing Modified Glock Machine Gun A federal jury in the District of the Virgin Islands convicted 22-year-old Ervin Noel Jr. of possessing a machine gun equipped with a “Glock switch” device and reckless endangerment. The conviction stems from an inciden... Read the full WLF article: https://worldlawyersforum.org/news/federal-jury-finds-st-croix-man-guilty-of-possessing-modified-glock-machine-gun