WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – A Westmoreland businessman was on Monday sentenced under the New Firearm  Prohibition Act to 15 years for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Jason Barrett, 36, appeared before the St James Gun Court where the ruling was handed down.

Reports from the Westmoreland Police are that about 12:30 am, a team of officers was on mobile patrol in the Big Bridge area when 36-year-old Barrett was reportedly seen at the front of a shop with a bulge to the right side of his waistband.

Barrett was accosted and searched and a firearm was reportedly taken from his waistband.

The firearm was reportedly inspected and found to be a black and silver Smith and Wesson Springfield 9mm pistol with a magazine containing sixteen 9mm rounds of ammunition.

Barrett, thereafter, informed the police that he was a licensed firearm holder. The police then requested that he produce his firearm user’s licence.

It is alleged that Barrett then went to his vehicle and made checks and later told the police he left the licence at home.

The police later accompanied him to his home to retrieve the licence. While at his house, he reportedly failed to produce the firearm licence and thereafter admitted to the lawmen that he is not the holder of a firearm user’s licence.

Barrett was subsequently charged.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Clifford Chambers confirmed with Observer Online on Monday afternoon, that Barrett was convicted for the maximum years.