The leader and two members of a violent criminal gang in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) were sentenced yesterday to life in prison for their roles in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organization (RICO).
According to court documents and evidence produced at trial, Paul Girard, also known as Bogus, 36, of St. Croix, USVI, was the leader of the gang. In that role, Girard ordered shootings against rival gang members, as well as individuals he believed had stolen from or otherwise disrespected the gang. Girard planned several armed robberies that his crew executed, including those at several jewelry stores located in St. Thomas. Most of the criminal activity was orchestrated by Girard from prison, where he was serving sentences for multiple prior criminal convictions.
Tyler Eugene, also known as Lucc, 26, of St. Croix, committed acts of violence on behalf of the gang and at Girard’s direction, including murdering a rival gang member outside a convenience store. Kareem Harry, also known as Crumbull, 36, also of St. Croix, participated in the murder of a victim who was believed to have stolen money from the Girard gang and separately set up the shooting death of a rival gang member outside of the victim’s child’s daycare.
Six additional defendants, all of St. Croix except for Wayne Bellille, who is of St. Thomas, USVI, have already pleaded guilty to various racketeering charges and have been sentenced. Below is each defendant’s sentence for the following convictions:
Defendant | In-Custody Sentence | Conviction |
Paul Girard | Life, plus 47 years | RICO conspiracy; VICAR murder; VICAR kidnapping; VICAR attempted murder; use of firearm to cause death during a crime of violence; Hobbs Act Robbery |
Tyler Eugene | Life, plus 30 years | RICO conspiracy; VICAR murder; VICAR attempted murder; use of firearm to cause death during a crime of violence |
Kareem Harry | Life, plus 20 years | RICO conspiracy, VICAR murder; VICAR kidnapping; use of firearm to cause death during a crime of violence |
Shaquielle Correa | 17 years, six months | RICO conspiracy |
James Cruz | 12 years | RICO conspiracy |
Shermyra Gumbs | Eight years, four months | RICO conspiracy |
Wahilli James | Six years | RICO conspiracy |
Wayne Bellille | Four years, nine months | RICO conspiracy |
Etherneal Simon | Two years, 10 months | RICO conspiracy and money laundering |
Shaquan Prentice | 25 years | RICO conspiracy |
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith for the District of the U.S. Virgin Islands; Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI San Juan Field Office’s St. Thomas and St. Croix Resident Agencies and Virgin Islands Police Department investigated the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.
Trial Attorney Christopher Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Edwards, formerly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands, prosecuted the case.