Former Trinidad and Tobago World Cup Cyclist Varun Maharajh Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison For Gun Smuggling
ORLANDO, FL – A citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, Varun Maharajh 32, was on Wednesday sentenced to seven years in federal prison for smuggling firearms overseas and possessing firearms as an unlawful alien.
Varun MaharajhMaharajh, a former World Cup cyclist for Trinidad and Tobago who also qualified for the Olympics in 2016, was also ordered to forfeit the firearms and ammunition seized in the case.
Maharajh entered a guilty plea on March 21, 2024.
According to court documents, on June 28, 2022, Maharajh shipped a parcel to London containing a microwave with five concealed pistols inside.
The documents noted that the serial numbers were erased on the firearms and Maharajh used a fake name, “Kelvin Singh,” to ship the package.
A few weeks later on July 18, Maharajh dropped off a package at a freight forwarding company in Miami.
The package was addressed to Trinidad and Tobago and Maharajh worked with an intermediary who filled out the paperwork.
The package contained a tent with two AK-47 style firearms concealed within its folds along with a microwave containing pistols. The serial numbers on the firearms were also erased.
Maharajh was arrested in Indian River County to the east of here, on November 19, 2023, and engaged in a high-speed chase on I-95 before totaling his vehicle and attempting to flee on foot.
Maharjh had entered the United States in 2020 and stayed without legal status.
32, was on Wednesday sentenced to seven years in federal prison for smuggling firearms overseas and possessing firearms as an unlawful alien.
Maharajh, a former World Cup cyclist for Trinidad and Tobago who also qualified for the Olympics in 2016, was also ordered to forfeit the firearms and ammunition seized in the case.
Maharajh entered a guilty plea on March 21, 2024.
According to court documents, on June 28, 2022, Maharajh shipped a parcel to London containing a microwave with five concealed pistols inside.
The documents noted that the serial numbers were erased on the firearms and Maharajh used a fake name, “Kelvin Singh,” to ship the package.
A few weeks later on July 18, Maharajh dropped off a package at a freight forwarding company in Miami.
The package was addressed to Trinidad and Tobago and Maharajh worked with an intermediary who filled out the paperwork.
The package contained a tent with two AK-47 style firearms concealed within its folds along with a microwave containing pistols. The serial numbers on the firearms were also erased.
Maharajh was arrested in Indian River County to the east of here, on November 19, 2023, and engaged in a high-speed chase on I-95 before totaling his vehicle and attempting to flee on foot.
Maharjh had entered the United States in 2020 and stayed without legal status.
