ST. CROIX — United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Clintford Joseph, Jr. age 54, of St. Croix pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court to providing a false statement to law enforcement investigators with respect to the whereabouts of Paul Girard, Jr. also known as “Bogus”.
According to court documents, U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon issued a warrant for Girard’s arrest on Oct. 28, 2018 and Joseph “harbored and concealed” Girard between around October 23rd and November 4th. Joseph also knowingly made a false statement to law enforcement officers on November 5th when he told federal investigators that he was unaware Girard “was staying in the bedroom located above the garage of a residence located at 84 Clairmont, St. Croix,” where Joseph, Jr. was the caretaker, according to the court documents.
Agents later learned that Girard had been staying in a bedroom above the garage at the Clairmont residence for over a week prior and that Joseph, Jr. in fact knew Girard was staying there when he advised the agents to the contrary. Girard was ultimately arrested at the Clairmont residence on a warrant for a violation of supervised release, according to the release.
Joseph, Jr. faces up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00. A sentencing date has been set for February 11, 2021.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz.
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