ST. THOMAS — Troy Titley, 36, of St. Thomas made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller after being charged by indictment with Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and conspiracy to possess a firearm during a crime of violence, Acting United States Attorney Joycelyn Hewlett announced.
Mr. Titley, who was detained pending a detention hearing on May 22, 2017, also has been charged under Virgin Islands law with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and possession of a firearm in a public housing zone.
Four other men charged in the robbery of the McDonald’s restaurant on March 25 at the Lockhart Shopping Center on St. Thomas made their initial appearances before Judge Miller on April 26, 2017. The four men are Hanselo Recio, Betel Paulino, Junior Feliz and Helwood Paris.
If convicted, Mr. Titley faces up to 20 years in prison on the Hobbs Act robbery and local robbery charges; a mandatory 10 year consecutive sentence for the federal possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and 15 and 30 year sentences on the territorial firearm charges.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and VIPD. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid M. TejoSprotte.
Acting United States Attorney Hewlett reminds the public that an indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Feature Image: Mc Donald’s Restaurant located at Lockhart Gardens. (Credit: Morgan Richardson, Jr., VIC)
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