Crime

Man Escapes Golden Grove Prison Two Days After Being Convicted On Firearm Charges In Federal Court

ST. CROIX -- After a two-day trial, a federal jury on Tuesday found Nathaniel Thomas, Jr., 28, of St. Croix, guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced Thursday. But Mr. Thomas, who was being held at the Golden Grove Correctional Facility on St. Croix, escaped on Thursday night, V.I.P.D. Commissioner Delroy Richards confirmed to The Consortium Friday morning. The information was relayed to the commissioner by Bureau of Corrections Director (B.O.C.) Rick Mulgrav. Mr. Thomas is facing up to 10 years in prison for the felon in possession count of conviction, a mandatory minimum of fifteen years and up to twenty years in prison on the unlawful possession count and up to five years in prison on the reckless endangerment count, according to U.S. Attorney Shappert. Nathaniel Thomas, Jr. According to two Golden Grove sources, Mr. Thomas escaped after cutting through a f...