Teshawn Nisbett Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession as Drug User

A St. Thomas man admitted to illegally possessing a firearm while actively using drugs, pleading guilty in federal court on November 30, 2016. Teshawn Nisbett, 22, stood before the judge and acknowledged his role in a crime that blends two of the territory’s most persistent problems: guns and narcotics.

Nisbett, a daily marijuana user for the past five years, was caught with a Glock pistol on August 4, 2016. Special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recovered the weapon during the course of their investigation. At the time of seizure, Nisbett was not legally permitted to own a firearm due to his ongoing unlawful drug use.

The plea agreement filed in court makes clear that Nisbett’s drug use wasn’t casual or occasional—it was systematic and sustained. Daily marijuana consumption over half a decade disqualified him from possessing any firearm under federal law, a fact prosecutors hammered home in their case.

Under federal statutes, being an unlawful user of drugs and possessing a firearm is a serious felony, carrying stiff penalties. Nisbett now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, though sentencing guidelines and cooperation may influence the final outcome. His day in court is set for April 6, 2017.

The investigation was led by the ATF, whose agents have intensified efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands to disrupt the flow of illegal weapons often tied to drug activity. The case underscores the federal government’s focus on disarming individuals whose access to firearms poses a heightened public safety risk.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Edwards is prosecuting the case. United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe confirmed the plea, adding that convictions like this are part of a broader strategy to reduce violent crime in the territory by targeting gun possession among those with known drug dependencies.