Breaking

9-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Shot in Head in Croixville Housing Community; Police Detain 15-Year-Old

Concerned Residents Clean Christiansted Town Using Their Own Tools, Money, and Some Help from the VI Fire Service

Territory May See Veterans Cemetery Through DeGazon-Sponsored Bill

Credit and Debit Cards of WAPA Customers Were Compromised Since August 30th, WAPA Says, Authority to Finally Start Issuing Notification Via Mail and Email

Sports Tourism in VI Gains Momentum as DC United Team is set to Play Exhibition Soccer Game on St. Croix

Carnival Breeze Brings 3,700 Tourists to St. Croix During Maiden Call; Senators, Tourism Officials Want to See More

Limetree Bay Willing To Provide $10 Million To Help Add Life to a Dying G.E.R.S.

American Airlines to Serve St. Croix With New Flights Next Summer

The Sudden Death of Influential Roots Reggae Visionary, Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite Band and Akae Beka, Has Rocked the Virgin Islands and Reggae Community Around the World

Arthur A. Richards K-8 School Hosts Anti-Bullying Campaign

Come Out. Hang Out. Have Fun at The Meat Up, One of St. Thomas’ Latest Hot-Spot for Good Food with Friends and Family.

UVI Board of Trustees Approves $47.1 Million Fiscal Year 2020 Budget; Sets $3 Million Fundraising Goal

Man Dies During Early Morning Car Accident on St. Croix; Driver of Car Arrested (Updated)

'You Did Everything You Could to Prevent this from Happening': An Emotional Goodbye to Young Aaron Benjamin

Back in Business: Cost U Less on St. Thomas Opened its Doors Friday to Thousands of Customers 2 Years after Irma and Maria

Bill Aimed at Regulating Credit Use by Gov't Departments and Agencies Among Others Held in Committee

Juan Luis Hospital Announces Completion and Availability of Mobile Dialysis Facilities

Tractor Trailer With Tank Carrying Thousands Of Gallons of Liquified Gas Flips Near Cool Out Bar; Driver Injured But Alive

Credit and Debit Card Hack Through WAPA Appears to be Widespread in Virgin Islands; WAPA Says Support Services Will be Made Available to Affected Customers

Facing Life in Prison Without Parole, Mother and Boyfriend Plead Not Guilty in Murder of 4-Year-Old Boy

Machine Gun-Wielding, Carjacking Suspect Charged In Federal Court

News / Virgin Islands / March 19, 2015

James Cruz, who was arrested on Feb. 21 along with a 16-year-old minor for brandishing what appeared to be a machine gun while carjacking a couple sitting in a vehicle in the vicinity of the St. Croix Educational Complex, was arraigned by U.S. Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon Thursday on federal charges of carjacking, using a firearm in a crime of violence, and local charges of robbery in the first degree, assault in the third degree, and unauthorized possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe has announced.

Judge Cannon ordered Cruz detained pending trial.

According to court records, the charges stem from an incident that occurred on Feb. 21 at the St. Croix Educational Complex High School when Cruz and an unnamed juvenile stole a vehicle at gun point. Both persons were apprehended after fleeing from the pursuing police officers.

If convicted, Cruz faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for unauthorized
possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, 20 years in prison for first-degree robbery, 15 years behind bars for carjacking, seven years for using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, and five years on the charge of third-degree assault.

U.S. Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that an information is a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian H. Stringer.


Tags: ,



Ernice Gilbert
I wear many hats, I suppose, but the one which fits me best would be journalism, second to that would be radio personality, thirdly singer/songwriter and down the line. I've been the Editor-In-Chief at my videogames website, Gamesthirst, for over 5 years, writing over 7,000 articles and more than 2 million words. I'm also very passionate about where I live, the United States Virgin Islands, and I'm intent on making it a better place by being resourceful and keeping our leaders honest. VI Consortium was birthed out of said desire, hopefully my efforts bear fruit. Reach me at [email protected].




Previous Post

Gittens Calls For Partnership Between Territory And Leading Medical Facility In Florida

Next Post

Prices Have Gone Down At Plaza East, But Taxes, WAPA Prevent Further Customer Savings, Owner Says (Pt.1)





You might also like

Leave a Reply


More Story

Gittens Calls For Partnership Between Territory And Leading Medical Facility In Florida

Sen. Kenneth Gittens has once more embarked on the mission to develop a Memorandum of Understanding between the territory...

March 19, 2015