U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS –V.I. Attorney General Nominee Gordon Rhea announced that Samuel Rivera Jr. and I’Koyo Matthias, both 32 years old and residents of St. Croix, were arrested on August 23, 2024. They face charges related to a violent armed robbery that occurred in February 2024, during which the victim was pistol-whipped, and his money and car were stolen.
Rivera and Matthias were arrested based on warrants issued and appeared for their Advice of Rights hearings today at the V.I. Superior Court. Both men were charged with Assault 1st Degree Principals, Assault 3rd Degree Principals, Robbery 1st Degree Principals, Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm/ Crime of violence, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, and Conspiracy. Additionally, because of search warrants executed in connection with the armed robbery case, Samuel Rivera Jr. has been charged with firearm possession after a weapon was found at his home.
According to an affidavit, On February 22, 2024, at 9:56 am the 911 Emergency Call Center received a report of a robbery in the vicinity of Strictly the Best Clothing Store, Christiansted. Officers contacted the victim who stated that he had been robbed of his vehicle and other belongings last evening. The victim was struck by a firearm and his vehicle, a dark green Infiniti, was stolen.
In a separate incident, Matthias was arrested for August 2023 charges of First-Degree Assault involving firearms.
Bail was set for both Rivera Jr. and Matthias at $75,000.
The Virgin Islands Department of Justice (DOJ) congratulates the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) and Detective Sarah Velez for their hard work in investigating these matters and coordinating with the DOJ to get guns off the streets and out of our community.