Aubrey Frett, 30, of St. Thomas, is behind bars on federal charges after being caught with a firearm bearing an obliterated serial number, crack cocaine, and marijuana—accused of using the weapon to further a drug operation. The indictment unsealed Thursday charges Frett with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
Frett was taken into custody on May 9, 2019, after making his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller, who ordered him detained pending further proceedings. The arrest stems from an encounter on September 3, 2018, when Virgin Islands Police Department officers detained Frett during an unrelated stop—and discovered the illegal cache on his person.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the firearm recovered had its serial number deliberately scratched off, a move law enforcement views as a clear attempt to conceal the weapon’s criminal history. Alongside the gun, authorities seized crack cocaine and marijuana—evidence prosecutors say proves Frett was not merely using, but actively dealing.
If convicted on all counts, Frett faces a crushing combination of federal penalties. The charge of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine could land him 20 years; for marijuana, up to five more. The firearm charge related to drug trafficking requires a mandatory consecutive five-year sentence—added on top of any others.
The investigation was a joint operation between the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Virgin Islands Police Department, underscoring the federal crackdown on weapons and narcotics flooding U.S. territories. Prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Everard Potter, who is pushing forward on all counts.
This case adds to the growing federal docket in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where gun violence and drug distribution remain persistent threats. Frett’s next court date has not been disclosed, but with hard time on the table and federal prosecutors holding strong evidence, his future looks grim.
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Key Facts
- State: Virgin Islands
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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