Convicted Rat Bat Gang Member Sentenced to Life for Illegal Weapons Stockpile

Kingston, Jamaica (McKoy’s News) – Convicted arms dealer and alleged gang member Derron Simms was sentenced to life imprisonment on Wednesday in the Kingston Gun Court for trafficking and stockpiling prohibited weapons and ammunition.

Simms, who police say is a member of the notorious Rat Bat Gang, was apprehended on May 25, 2025, during a targeted operation conducted by detectives attached to the Portmore Police.

Reports are that Simms was taken into custody in the KFC Braeton car park in Portmore, where he was allegedly found in possession of multiple high-powered firearms and dozens of rounds of ammunition. A video of the dramatic arrest quickly went viral, capturing the accused loudly pleading for his life as heavily armed officers closed in.

The sentence handed down follows a protracted trial that spanned several months. In delivering the ruling, the judge described Simms’ actions as a grave threat to public safety, especially given the scale of the arsenal recovered and his gang affiliation.

The sentencing is being hailed as a major breakthrough in the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s ongoing crackdown on illegal weapons trafficking. Over the past five years, the JCF has intensified its islandwide campaign in response to Jamaica’s staggeringly high homicide rate, where the majority of killings involve illegal firearms.

Simms will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years.