Ronald Sharpe Appointed Interim U.S. Attorney for V.I. District

ST. THOMAS, USVI—Veteran federal prosecutor Ronald W. Sharpe has been appointed the Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of the Virgin Islands, a position he will hold until a presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney takes over.

Sharpe, who has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia since 1995, joined the District of the Virgin Islands in November 2008 as First Assistant U.S. Attorney. He has served with distinction in various sections of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia, including the Homicide Section, and most recently, the Fraud and Public Corruption Section. Sharpe graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Science degree in management in 1987 and from Stanford Law School in 1991.

“We are very fortunate indeed to have an experienced, well-regarded attorney like Ronald in this position,” said Paul Murphy, who steps down as his term as Acting U.S. Attorney ends on September 6, 2009. Murphy will resume his duties as First Assistant U.S. Attorney.

Sharpe will serve until President Obama’s administration nominates a new US. Attorney and the U.S. Senate confirms the appointment. The last presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney in the Virgin Islands was Anthony Jenkins, who retired in October 2008.

Sharpe will oversee the operations of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Virgin Islands, including its branch office on St. Croix. About 40 people, including 19 attorneys work in the two offices.