Robbery Conspiracy Lands Woman 70 Months in Prison

A brazen robbery at Perfection Jewelry Store on St. Croix has led to a 70-month prison sentence for Ketisha Iles, 25, for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and interference with commerce by robbery.

On June 17, 2013, Iles allowed masked gunmen to enter the store after she had been buzzed in. The gunmen hit an employee several times with a gun and stole approximately $100,000 worth of 14-carat gold jewelry. The evidence presented at trial showed that Iles knew of the robbery before it happened and agreed to hold the door open for the gunmen.

A federal jury on St. Croix convicted Iles of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and interference with commerce by robbery on March 6, 2015, after a five-day trial.

B Senior District Court Judge Raymond Finch handed down the sentence on March 14, 2017, in addition to three years of supervised release and a special monetary assessment of $200. The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry prosecuted the case.

The robbery at Perfection Jewelry Store was a brazen display of violence and disregard for human life. The fact that Iles knew of the robbery beforehand and chose to participate only adds to the severity of the crime.

It is a relief that justice has been served in this case, and we hope that it will serve as a deterrent to others who would engage in similar crimes. The people of St. Croix deserve to feel safe in their community, and it is the job of law enforcement to ensure that they do.

We commend the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office for their hard work and dedication in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.

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