Lame duck governor frees 7 hardened criminals in time to join in Christmas activities

CHRISTIANSTED — Governor Albert Bryan has granted clemency to seven individuals — issuing pardons for six and commuting the sentence of one — offering second chances and fresh starts to people who have demonstrated change, personal growth and advancement. 

“Each of the seven individuals petitioned Governor Bryan to provide them with clemency relief, which will offer them the opportunity to progress in their personal and professional lives,” Government House said in a prepared statement.

Governor Bryan commuted the sentence of Troy Patterson, 55, who in 2019 was arrested and later pled guilty to the federal charge of possession of a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking offense and unlawful use of a utility in violation of Virgin Islands law. He was sentenced to five years on the federal offense, and four months on the local offense.

Mr. Patterson served four years in federal prison with an exemplary record and was permitted to return to the U.S. Virgin Islands to serve the remainder of his federal sentence under home confinement. He was scheduled to report to the Bureau of Corrections to serve the time on his local conviction on the 21^st. Governor Bryan is commuting Mr. Patterson’s four-month local sentence so that he can continue working and not lose the progress he has made during his time after release.

“Mr. Patterson has expressed remorse for his actions and has served significant time in federal prison for his offenses and the ends of justice have been achieved,” Governor Bryan wrote. “It is appropriate to grant him a commutation of the final four months of his sentence so that he may continue his employment and the excellent readjustment he has begun.”

Governor Bryan pardoned the following individuals:

• Irma C. George, 69, a former law enforcement officer, was convicted in 1999 of embezzlement and was sentenced to a probationary period of two years and payment of restitution, which was discharged on Jan 14, 2004.

• Delano Sukuma Hunte,70, was convicted in 1990 of possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to six months of probation and has paid his debt to society.

• Lisimba Kitwana, 66, was convicted in 1982 of possession of an unlicensed firearm and was sentenced to 10 months of incarceration with four months suspended, and one year of supervised probation. He has served his sentence.
• Jean Greaux Gonzalez, 62, was convicted of third-degree assault in 1986 and was sentenced to six months of incarceration suspended with three years of supervised probation and 80 hours of community service. Ms. Gonzalez has paid her debt to society.
• Ashwin R. Chugani, 34, was convicted in 2014 of interfering with an officer and possession of an unlicensed firearm. He was sentenced to one year of imprisonment for the first offense and one year of imprisonment for the second offense, to run concurrently, and was discharged from his sentence on September 10, 2014.
• Patricio Donastorg Buncome, 28, pleaded guilty in 2014 to one count of unauthorized possession of a firearm. He served his time and was discharged in August of 2014.
• The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit transparency.vi.gov