Although he claimed he stopped his boat in this territory just to refuel, St. Thomas captain Camille King pleaded guilty to gun-related charges and entering the territory illegally. On Thursday, Magistrate Tamia Richards sentenced him to spend 30 months in prison for the offences.

Two other men who were passengers on the boat, Kimo Inniss and Germaine Bell, were sentenced to eight months for entering the territory without leave of an immigration officer.

According to Crown prosecutors, the men were seen removing items from a boat anchored near a patch of mangroves in Frenchmans Cay on July 21.

Mr. King pleaded guilty to various charges for two weapons found on his boat during a police search: two counts of unlawful possession of an unlicensed firearm; two counts of importation of a firearm; three counts of importation of explosives; and unlawful importation of goods.

Mssrs. Inniss and Bell pleaded not guilty to the gun charges, which were dropped after Mr. King’s guilty plea.

See the Aug. 16, 2012 edition for full coverage.

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