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Six men busted at roadblock with guns…One jailed, others remanded
One of the six men who police nabbed in a stolen car at a roadblock at Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara, was yesterday jailed for a total of eight years on charges of illegal firearm and ammunition possession.
The man, 30-year-old Steve Hercules of 2-3 Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara, was arraigned before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Providence Magistrates’ Courts on four charges each of illegal possession of arms and ammo respectively.
Hercules admitted that on April 10, at Grove, East Bank Demerara, he had a Glock 9mm pistol with serial number FKA 452 and 11 rounds; one black Glock 9MM pistol with serial number filed off and 11 rounds; a Beretta pistol with serial number PY 1467150 and 11 rounds, and a Taurus pistol with serial number filed off and six rounds, in his possession, when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.
Magistrate Scarce sentenced Hercules to serve a term of four years imprisonment on each of the four ammunition charges. The prison terms will run concurrently. Hercules was further sentenced to serve a term of four years imprisonment on each of the firearm charges which will run concurrently.
Together, the prison terms imposed for the illegal firearm and ammunition charges will run consecutively.
This means that Hercules will serve a term of imprisonment of eight years and pay a fine of $800,000.
In his address to the court, Hercules claimed that he was paid $50,000 to transport his accomplices and the illegal weapons.
The men shield their faces while being escorted from the courthouse.
Meanwhile, his alleged accomplices Renard Khan, 31, of Lot 147 Cooper Street, Albouystown; Edward Skeete, called ‘Pretty Boy’, 30, of Lot 309 Independence Boulevard; Marvin Blackman, 27, of South Ruimveldt; Mark Prince, called ‘Fineman’, 39, of Lot 52 Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, and Nabadinghi Gobin, called ‘Dangles’, 33, of Lot 181 Charlotte Street, Bourda, were slapped with the same charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. Each of them pleaded not guilty to each of the charges.
In addition, the five men were charged jointly for conspiring with Hercules to change the licence plate of motorcar PVV 6204 to HC 4543. They all denied the allegation and were instructed to return to court on April 20, when they are expected to face additional charges.
Hercules was charged alone with fraudulently imitating identification mark PVV 6204 on a registered motor vehicle. To this charge he pleaded not guilty.
The six accused. At bottom right is Steve Hercules who was jailed yesterday
Attorney-at-Law George Thomas entered an appearance on behalf of the men.
According to reports, the six men had attempted to commit an armed robbery on poultry farmer Michael Chang Yuen, 69, a Chinese national, at Supply, East Bank Demerara. It was reported that Chang was with his two sons when he heard a noise outside. On checking, he saw four men in his yard. He raised an alarm and the suspects fled in a car, HC 4543. Police intercepted the six men at a roadblock on the Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara.
They were in possession of two 9mm Glock pistols, with 22 live rounds; a Beretta Pistol with 11 rounds; a. 32 Taurus Pistol with six live rounds; along with a sledgehammer, two pairs of latex gloves, and trade plates.
Kaieteur News understands that the firearms were handed over to the ballistic section of the Guyana Police Force to ascertain whether the firearms were used in any other crimes. Police said that the vehicle the men were in was stolen from its owner during an armed robbery on March 25, last, at Princes Street, Georgetown.
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