Man fined $28k for illegal firearm, ammo

A Christ Church man has been fined $28 000 after admitting to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition nearly two years ago, telling police the weapon had been pawned to him by another individual.

Ryan Timothy Andrews, of Sayers Court, Christ Church, had pleaded guilty during an earlier session of the Continuous Assizes in the No. 3 Supreme Court to having an unlicensed Jericho 941 Smith and Wesson semi-automatic pistol and 11 rounds of ammunition on September 4, 2024.

During the sentencing hearing, Justice Carlisle Greaves fined him $17 000 immediately for the firearm. Failure to pay will result in Andrews serving seven years and seven months.

In addition, the convicted man was fined $1 000 for each bullet. The $11 000 must be paid in six months or Andrews will spend seven years in prison.

Acting Senior State Counsel Anastacia McMeo-Boyce prosecuted, while attorney Shadia Simpson represented Andrews.

The court heard that, in executing a search warrant at Andrews’s home, he was asked whether he had anything illegal on the premises and said: “Just a little marijuana.” As the search continued, he was again asked and told the officers: “A gun. I took it from the box upstairs and put it in the bedroom downstairs.” Andrews pointed to a shelf in an opened wardrobe where the police found a black firearm with a magazine.

Asked to give an account, he said: “Okay, there is a guy that wanted to borrow some money and I tell him that he got to pawn me something and he pawn me the gun.”

He was told of the offence, arrested and taken to the District ‘E’ Police Station.

(JB)