St. Croix, USVI B Ajani Plante, 26, pleaded guilty today in federal court on St. Croix to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, Acting United States Attorney Joycelyn Hewlett announced.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on June 17, 2013, Plante, while aided and abetted by others, entered Perfection Gift Shop to rob the store. Plante and the other individuals had guns drawn and one of the robbers hit the store security person in the head with the gun, injuring him. Plante and the other robbers went behind the counter and removed several trays of gold jewelry. After the robbery, they ran out of the store, got into a vehicle behind the shopping center, and left the scene.
Plante faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on the robbery count and a mandatory seven years and a $250,000 fine on the gun charge. A sentencing date has been set for July 20, 2017.
This case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
