Wahilli Nasco James, a 23 St. Croix resident, was sentenced Tuesday to more than seven years in prison for his role in the armed robbery of the Gems and Gold Corner Jewelry Store, located on the St. Thomas waterfront.
“The flagrant actions of gun-toting robbers will not be tolerated in the Territory,” said U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert. “In the United States Attorney’s Office, our primary focus is public safety. We intend to target violent criminals for federal prosecution. Today’s sentence is the result of constructive relationships between law-abiding citizens, hard-working law enforcement officers, and dedicated federal prosecutors.”
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced James to 87 months in prison for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and five years of supervised release. Gomez ordered James to pay a $100 special assessment, and perform 400 hours of community service. Judge Gomez also ordered James to pay restitution in the amount of $31,027.81 to Gems and Gold Corner and $130,322.12 to Dorchester Insurance.
According to court records, James pleaded guilty on Jan. 19 to possessing a firearm during the Sept. 16, 2013, Hobbs Act robbery of Gems and Gold Corner Jewelry Store on St. Thomas. As a part of his plea agreement, James admitted that he and others committed a Hobbs Act robbery of the jewelry store and brandished weapons to threaten and intimidate store employees.
This case is a result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Virgin Islands Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim L. Chisholm.
