CHARLOTTE AMALIE —A man extradited from New Jersey to face an attempted murder charge can now add grand theft auto to the lengthy list of felony counts he faces in Superior Court.
Hyram Graneau Jr., 35, and Ruben George, 38, were each arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and grand larceny, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
Detectives arrested Graneau and George in connection to a stolen rental car, according to the VIPD.
VIPD mug shot of Ruben George, 38, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Earlier in 2024, police officers arrested Ruben George in connection with a separate incident during which he was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm, police said.
Notably, the firearm was discovered inside a vehicle that was later reported stolen by a rental car company, according to police.
In the course of the investigation, detectives found that Ruben George, along with Hyram Graneau Jr., whom he claimed to have received the vehicle from, conspired to unlawfully possess the stolen vehicle, VIPD spokeswoman Kishma Chichester said.
VIPD mug shot of Hyram Graneau Jr., 35, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
“This discovery underscores the deliberate and coordinated actions taken by both individuals to engage in criminal activity,” Chichester said.
Bail for George and Graneau was set at $25,000.00 each. Their current disposition was not explained by police.
In September of 2024, Graneau was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted murder along with several other felony charges in connection with an incident that occurred on June 5, 2024 in Red Hook.
This current grand theft auto case remains under active investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to notify the 911 Emergency Call Center or Detective Yordona LoBlack of the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-774-2211, the Chief’s Office at 340-715-5546, the Commissioner’s Office at 340-715-5506 or Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-8477.
The Virgin Islands Police Department assures the public that all tips will be kept in the strictest of confidence and contributors can remain anonymous throughout the process.
