The ringleader of a violent criminal enterprise will be spending the rest of his life behind bars, along with two of his associates, following their sentencing in St. Thomas District Court on Wednesday. Paul Girard, 36, also known as Bogus, received the harshest penalty from District Court Judge Timothy Savage with 10 concurrent life sentences.
Federal prosecutors say Girard led a criminal enterprise that conspired, robbed, murdered, kidnapped, and assaulted victims on St. Thomas and St. Croix from as early as 2015. Associates Kareem Harry, 36 — also known as Crumbull — and Tyler Eugene, 26 — also known as Lucc — were also sentenced Wednesday for their participation; the judge gave Eugene eight life sentences — seven for Harry.
U.S. Attorney Delia Smith called the penalties proof of the government’s intent to hold violent felons accountable.
“A reign of unspeakable terror was unleashed in this Territory by Girard and his enterprise. Murders, robberies, assaults, gun violence, kidnappings, all ordered by Girard while he was incarcerated. Many lives have been affected by this senseless violence, but the life sentences issued by the court send a strong message that our system of justice works, and anyone who commits these heinous crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”, Smith said in a statement issued June 5.
The top prosecutor for the U.S. Virgin Islands summarized the penalties: Girard was ordered to serve life plus 47 years, Harry to serve life plus 20 years, and Eugene to serve a life sentence plus 30 years.
Girard is described in prior news accounts as someone who began a life of crime at age 15 and who had just been released from federal detention in Puerto Rico a few days after the grand jury published its indictment in early October 2018. He was captured by authorities on St. Croix a few weeks later and surrendered without incident.
Eugene and Harry were identified as the gunmen in two fatal shootings on St. Croix; one outside a convenience store, the other near the Williams Delight Day Care Center on or about Sept. 26, 2013.
Life sentences were handed out for violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), conspiracy to use a firearm during and in violation of a federal crime of violence; murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, drug trafficking conspiracy and use of a firearm resulting in death.
Numerous criminal counts were dismissed for each defendant at sentencing. The judge also acquitted Girard, Harry and Eugene on various charges because of insufficient evidence.
Each defendant also received prison terms for other acts linked to the criminal enterprise. Girard got 20 years for Hobbs Act Robbery, 10 years for attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and 17 years for two counts of discharging a firearm during and related to federal violent crimes.
Although he was incarcerated at the time, those charges apply as part of the RICO statute, where all members face penalties for acts committed in furtherance of the enterprise.
Harry was given 20 years in addition to his life sentences on the count of assault in aid of racketeering; Eugene got 10 years tacked onto his life sentences for attempted murder in aid of racketeering.
The initial indictment that led to a lengthy prosecution began in 2018 when Girard along with Ethereal Simon and Shaquan Prentice was charged by a grand jury for a series of Hobbs Act robberies dating back to 2015. Targeted businesses included Divi Casino and Racino, Gems and Gold Corner Jewelers, Signature Jewelers, 3 G’s Jewelry & Repair — all St. Thomas jewelry stores — and an attempted robbery of the Sunny Isles Branch of Scotia Bank.
Federal prosecutors won convictions of the major players in March 2022. (link – USDOJ:
Other members of the enterprise — close to a dozen individuals — were added as superseding indictments appeared. Six have been tried and sentenced; all serving time for RICO conspiracy with one — Simon — convicted of an additional charge of money laundering.
Counts going back 11 years? How is justice served when it takes that long to hold criminals accountable?