TAMPA, FL – Two men are heading to federal prison after a years-long scheme to illegally ship firearms from Florida to Trinidad and Tobago was finally dismantled. Tevin OBrian Oliver, 30, of Homestead, and Jameal Kaia Phillip, 31, of Trinidad and Tobago, each received a four-year and nine-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday, followed by three years of supervised release. The pair pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to smuggle goods, a charge that carries significant weight given the destination and nature of the contraband.
Federal investigators uncovered a sophisticated operation where Oliver and Phillip, both nationals of Trinidad, worked to bypass U.S. law enforcement and Caribbean customs officials. Between 2019 and 2022, the pair allegedly exported firearms, firearm components – including crucial parts like upper and lower receivers, and complete gun kits – destined for the streets of Trinidad and Tobago. The scheme relied heavily on deception, concealing the deadly cargo within seemingly innocuous shipments of boxing equipment, speakers, and other common household items.
The operation wasn’t just about concealment, but also about circumventing background checks. The conspirators utilized straw purchases, falsely representing the identities of the actual buyers and the ultimate destination of the weapons. This allowed them to acquire firearms from various sources without raising immediate red flags. A key piece of evidence surfaced on April 7, 2021, when Oliver shipped a package 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.
The package didn’t make it unnoticed. Trinidadian authorities intercepted the shipment at Piarco International Airport on April 22, 2021, revealing the concealed firearms and related equipment. This seizure triggered a joint investigation between U.S. and Trinidadian law enforcement, ultimately leading to the convictions of Oliver and Phillip. The bust wasn’t a lucky find, but the result of coordinated effort. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt stated the dismantling of the network will “make a significant impact toward lowering crime and gun violence in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.”
The investigation was a collaborative effort, involving Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), including HSI’s Attaché (Caribbean), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of National Security, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Risha Asokan and Cherie Krigsman prosecuted the case, highlighting the seriousness with which federal authorities are approaching arms trafficking to the Caribbean.
This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, a multi-agency initiative aimed at disrupting and dismantling the most dangerous criminal organizations. The OCDETF focuses on prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven investigations, and the successful prosecution of Oliver and Phillip serves as a stark warning to those involved in similar illicit activities. The forfeited firearms and ammunition will be destroyed, preventing them from reaching criminal hands.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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