Sophia shopkeeper gets 3 years for possession of gun, ammo

Thirty-four-year-old Jermaine Anthony, a shopkeeper from the Sophia Squatting Area, Greater Georgetown, was on Tuesday sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition charges.
Anthony appeared before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court where the charges were read to him. After pleading guilty, he was given a three-year jail sentence.
The shopkeeper was arrested during a Police-led intelligence operation that was conducted by the Station Sergeant and ranks from Timehri Police Station on Saturday.

Police stated that on the day in question at about 14:40h, ranks intercepted a Toyota Hiace (Pitbull) minibus bearing registration number BAD 6749, at Sarah Johanna, EBD.
As such, a search was conducted on the passengers but nothing illegal was found on their person but further checks in the minibus unearthed a .32 Taurus pistol with its serial number filed off and 16 live rounds of .32 ammunition hidden under a seat.
Several persons were questioned and based on investigations, two persons – Anthony and a 24-year-old carpenter, both of C Field Sophia, were arrested. Further investigations led to charges being instituted against the shopkeeper.