Daniel Ramos pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court on St. Croix to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on June 21 Ramos and Edigberto Diaz, 46, entered Quality Foods, in Estate Castle Coakley. Diaz carried a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun with an obliterated serial number, court documents show. The pistol held 14 rounds of ammunition and Ramos carried a toy gun, according to Sharpe’s announcement.
They entered an office area, pointed the guns at two individuals and demanded that they open the safe, documents show. Ramos and Diaz removed $24,289.17 in cash and checks, and they also took personal items belonging to the victims.
Ramos faces a maximum of 20 years and a $250,000 fine on the robbery count and a mandatory seven years and a $250,000 fine on the gun count. A sentencing date has been set for May 23.
Diaz pleaded guilty to the same counts on Aug 18 and will be sentenced Feb. 19.
This case was investigated by the V.I. Police Department and the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.
