Over the government’s objection, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller Thursday ordered the release of the four men charged in the daylight robbery of Imperial Jewelry Store on St. Thomas, a robbery that netted more than $1 million in merchandise, U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
Miller stayed her order releasing the four men until 9 a.m. Monday to give the government an opportunity to appeal the order.
Shaquim Fredericks, 19, Warkim Gabriel, 18, Alvin Thomas, 19, and Chefton Newton, 26, all of St. Thomas, were charged in federal court on April 4 with interference with commerce by threats of violence. They appeared Thursday in federal court for their preliminary and detention hearing.
After finding probable cause to charge the four men with the robbery, the court ordered their release with conditions including home confinement, electronic monitoring, a third-party custodian and $50,000 cash bond.
The four men are allowed to post 10 percent of the bond, Sharpe said.
According to documents filed in federal court, on March 15 the four defendants and three other young men, legal minors, committed armed robbery of the Imperial Jewelry Store on Main Street, robbing the store of more than $1million worth of merchandise. After leaving the store, the defendants fled to the bushy area behind Fireburn Hill, where they were apprehended by officers and detectives from the V.I. Police Department, according to reports.
If convicted, the defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Explosives and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Virgin Islands Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Everard E. Potter is prosecuting it.
