CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Thomas man who was part of a duo that put a bullet in a security guard’s leg after he interfered with their botched bank robbery attempt got 12 years behind bars from a federal judge, authorities said.
Melik Petersen, 29, of Anna’s Retreat was sentenced to 144 months in prison for assault with the intent to commit robbery, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.
According to court documents filed in the case, on the morning of September 11, 2019, Ranger American Armored Services guards were attempting to pick up $951,000 from a Scotia Bank branch in the Altona area St. Thomas.
Petersen and another unidentified individual, both armed, attempted to rob the guards of the money and a gunfight ensued, during which one of the guards suffered a bullet wound in his leg.
The two assailants and the getaway driver then fled the scene after failing to steal the money.
This case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD).
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Sleeper and Nathan Brooks.