St. Croix Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Robbery-Related Offenses Involving the Perfection Gift Store Robbery and for Firearm Offenses

St. Croix, USVI – Visiting Judge Anne E. Thompson sentenced Ajani Plante, 28, to a total of 180 months in prison for firearms and robbery offenses, and three years of supervised release, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. Judge Thompson also ordered Plante to pay special assessments and restitution to the victims.

According to the plea agreement filed with the court, the defendant was one of several persons involved in the June 17, 2013 Perfection Gift Shop robbery. The defendant and others arrived with guns drawn, and one of the robbers hit the store security person in the head with the gun, injuring him. The defendant and the other robbers went behind the counter and removed several trays of gold jewelry. After the robbery, the assailants ran out of the store, got into a vehicle behind the shopping center, and left the scene. The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.

Judge Thompson also sentenced Plante for a separate episode during which he possessed a firearm as a convicted felon. According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on December 4, 2015, Plante was a passenger in a vehicle being chased by the police. The vehicle stopped and Plante exited the rear passenger door. He then pointed a rifle at the police and discharged several rounds, one of which struck the police unit. Plante re-entered the vehicle and the driver drove away, thereby avoiding arrest. That case was also investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso Andrews.