Gun builder and robbery mastermind jailed for over 12 more years

Michael Junior Brewster, who boasted to police that he was the “best in business” at fixing and building guns, was given a 21-year starting sentence for illegal firearm and ammunition possession in 2023.

In addition, the self-professed gun builder and ‘soviet enforcer’ received a 14-year starting sentence for an aggravated 2014 burglary.

However, with deductions, he will spend close to 13 years in prison.

The resident of Neptune Road, Deacons, St Michael, and Brewster Road, Rendezvous, Christ Church, in an earlier session of the Assizes, pleaded guilty in the No. 4 Supreme Court before Madam Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell to having a 9mm calibre FEG semi-automatic pistol and five rounds of ammunition on November 12, 2023. He also admitted to entering Lady Haven on January 10, 2014, and stealing $400 belonging to Kevin Mayers, while armed with a firearm.

According to the facts in the firearm matter, police officers in plain clothes were on patrol in Headley’s Lane, St Michael, around 8:46 p.m., where they saw three people sitting in dark clothing next to a shop and a streetlight. Brewster attempted to run when they announced themselves as police, but he was caught, subdued and searched. A firearm containing ammunition was found.

The convicted man told police that he was referred to as ‘Rampa’, a person who is a gun builder, and called himself a ‘soviet enforcer’. In addition, Brewster boasted that he loved his job, adding that he handles firearms like the AR-15 and AK-47 and that people brought guns for him to fix.

Justice Smith-Bovell noted that the gun was loaded and in a public place, that Brewster struggled with police, and that he committed the offence while on bail on the aggravated burglary charge.

“The court noted that he told the police that he is in the habit of fixing firearms for persons. Clearly, these are illegal firearms. The now convicted man, by fixing these firearms, is assisting and contributing to the prevalence and scourge of illegal firearms amongst the criminal elements of society, placing all members of society at risk,” the judge said before giving Brewster a starting sentence of 21 years in prison.

After deductions were considered, including his early guilty plea and his time on remand, Brewster has to spend 12 years and 242 days more in jail.

In the aggravated burglary case, the court heard that Brewster rode a motorcycle to Lady Haven, an establishment located at Walmer Road, St Michael, with now deceased Kedar Holloway as his pillion rider, around 5:25 p.m. on the mentioned date.

Holloway got off the bike, went into the store, pulled a firearm from a plastic bag, pointed a gun at a female employee and ordered her to give him the money from the cash register.

He pushed her in the chest, causing her to stumble, while continuing to hold the gun pointed in her direction. Fearing for her life, she unlocked the cash register and handed him the $400 inside. He ran out to where Brewster was waiting on the bike, climbed back on, and the two rode off in the direction of Eagle Hall.

During his interview with police, Brewster admitted to giving Holloway a gun, mask and helmet before they committed the offence. He said they had attempted to rob another establishment, but after getting no money they went looking at other shops before riding to Lady Haven. Brewster said he received $200 from the robbery, and Holloway returned the gun and other items to him.

Justice Smith-Bovell pointed out that the burglary was premeditated and deliberate, Brewster rode around looking for businesses to rob, and he was the mastermind and provided Holloway with a gun, mask and helmet to carry it out. She also took into account the prevalence of such offences in society and Brewster’s attempts to conceal the weapon after the crime.

The firearm and ammunition were recovered.

Justice Smith-Bovell also noted Brewster’s nine previous convictions, five of which were under the Theft Act, and that his pre-sentence report deemed him to be at high risk of reoffending. That led to his starting sentence being increased by one year.

Following deductions, Brewster has to serve one year and 94 days for the aggravated burglary, to run concurrently with the sentence for the firearm and ammunition.

State Counsel Paul Prescod prosecuted the matter while defence attorney Safiya Moore represented Brewster.