A split-second decision to toss evidence out of a window wasn’t enough to save “Mongoose” from the long arm of the law.
The popular tattoo and body-piercing artist, Oszie Kelvin Russell, whose art has decorated many clients, now finds himself marked with a different kind of sentence—three and a-half years behind bars.
According to police reports, officers executed a search warrant at Russell’s Lightfoot residence at approximately 6:55am on April 22.
Upon announcing their presence, Russell allegedly attempted to dispose of an object by throwing it out of his bedroom window. Officers later recovered the item and a further search revealed a suppressor on the premises.
The 40-year-old father of two was remanded to His Majesty’s Prison after pleading guilty to possessing an unlicensed 9mm Glock 80 pistol, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a black suppressor in Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel’s court on Wednesday.
The sentencing, which took place on Thursday, followed the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Guidelines established in 2019.
Recent legislation—the Firearm Amendment Act of 2024—had increased maximum sentences for firearm offences from two to five years and eliminated the option for fines.
In determining the appropriate sentence, Magistrate Emanuel categorized the offense consequence as Category 3 (lesser) because none of the other categories were applicable. However, the seriousness was classified as Level A (high) because the weapon had a round in the chamber. This assessment established a starting point of two and a half years.
Mitigating factors, including Russell’s good character and cooperation with police, reduced the sentence by two months. His guilty plea earned a one-third reduction, amounting to nearly 10 months off.
The court added 18 months when considering all of the offences — especially the presence of a silencer — under the totality principle, with one day credited for time spent on remand.
Russell, who maintains a substantial social media following as a body modification specialist, claimed he had been planning to apply for a firearms licence. He was represented in court by Attorney Jan Peltier.
The court ordered concurrent sentences of three years and six months for firearm possession, and one year each for the ammunition and suppressor possession.
All weapons and related items were ordered confiscated and transferred to the Armory.
