Here’s what’s currently known about the case of the man accused in Orlando of shipping guns to Dominica hidden in clothing — based on the most recent reporting and federal court records:
Overview of the Allegations
- Federal authorities allege a Central Florida man used packages mislabeled as everyday items to smuggle firearms and ammunition from Orlando, Florida, to the Caribbean island of Dominica. WFTV
- One of the intercepted packages in Dominica was labeled as clothing but actually contained:
- 150 rounds of ammunition
- 13 magazines
- Six guns with obliterated serial numbers
Another package, labeled as canned food and found in South Florida en route to Dominica, contained six 9mm handguns and 12 magazines. WFTV
The Accused
- The individual named in court documents is Kenny James Phillip, who is facing federal charges related to smuggling firearms. WFTV
- Court filings indicate Phillip has a history of illegally possessing firearms in Dominica and had been a fugitive living in Orlando before these charges. WFTV
- According to authorities, he holds both American and French citizenship. WFTV
- Investigators allege he used travel routes involving short boat trips from Guadeloupe (a French territory) to mask movements between the U.S. and Dominica. WFTV
Current Status
- As of the latest reports, a person with Phillip’s name is listed as being in custody at a federal prison in Miami. WFTV
- Authorities have not yet released additional details about his arrest or upcoming court proceedings beyond that custody record. WFTV
How the Scheme Was Discovered
- The bundles were traced back to an Orlando shipping company. Employees there reportedly identified the individual who dropped off the suspicious packages. WFTV
- Secrecy and mislabeling — including concealing guns under innocuous contents — is a tactic often used in firearm export cases to evade law enforcement and shipping screens. WFTV