Tevin Oliver, Arms Trafficking, Florida 2022

TAMPA, FL – Federal authorities have cracked down on a Caribbean arms trafficking ring, indicting three men accused of illegally exporting firearms and related equipment from Florida to Trinidad and Tobago. The scheme, allegedly operating between 2019 and 2022, involved concealing weapons within shipments of boxing gear, speakers, and other household items, attempting to bypass law enforcement and customs scrutiny.

Tevin OBrian Oliver (29, Homestead), Jameal Kaia Phillip (30, Trinidad and Tobago), and Edward Soloman King III (31, Tampa) have each been charged with conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States. If convicted, each man faces a potential five-year federal prison sentence. Oliver and Phillip are both citizens of Trinidad, raising questions about the origin and destination of the illicit weapons.

The indictment details a sophisticated operation that utilized “straw purchases” to acquire firearms in the Tampa area. Conspirators allegedly misrepresented the identities of the actual buyers and the intended recipients, obscuring the true destination of the weapons. A key shipment intercepted on April 7, 2021, revealed the extent of the scheme. Authorities at Piarco International Airport in Trinidad seized a package originating from Miami containing a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol, a SAR Arms SAR-9 9mm pistol, a Taurus G3 9mm pistol, and a Ruger Security-9 9mm pistol, all cleverly hidden within innocuous cargo.

The bust wasn’t immediate. It took months of investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), including HSI’s Attaché in the Caribbean, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to build a case. Support was also provided by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (Transnational Organized Crime Unit and Special Investigations Unit), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and United States Customs and Border Protection. The coordinated effort highlights the growing need for international cooperation to combat arms trafficking.

Edward Soloman King III was taken into custody and appeared in federal court in the Middle District of Florida on October 25, 2022. Jameal Kaia Phillip and Tevin OBrian Oliver both made their initial court appearances in the Southern District of Florida on October 25th and 26th, respectively. While the indictments have been unsealed, authorities emphasize that these are merely formal accusations. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs is leading the prosecution. The case serves as a stark reminder of the constant flow of illegal weapons across borders and the persistent threat posed by organized crime groups. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, providing updates on the legal proceedings and any further developments in the investigation.

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