Former US Virgin Islands Governor, Charles Turnbull. Photo: Susan Mann

According to Greaux, "This was done outside of Governor de Jongh's watch, but none the less he was troubled by the former chief executive's actions."
 
Indeed, public and private citizens alike throughout the territory have been surprised by the magnitude and seriousness of some of the crimes committed by the convicted felons receiving this special treatment. A sitting Virgin Islands governor can pardon and commute sentences committed at the local level at any time while he or she is in office. The governor has no jurisdiction to do so over federal criminal convictions.
 
The following is a listing of some of the names, along with the nature of their convictions, who received the benefit of former Governor Turnbull's executive decisions:

Two time bank robber, Reuben Dowling, who initially received a 70 year  sentence for a 1979 robbery, served six years, was released, robbed another bank,  and  was sentenced to another 70 years. Turnbull commuted his sentence to time served.

Robert Bastian convinced a teen age girl to get in his vehicle and hide by offering her a reward of free entry to an event she wanted to attend. He then took her to another location and raped her. Bastian pled out, and was sentenced to 13 1/2 years. His sentence was commuted to time served. The rape took place in 2002.

In 1995, Dentist Wilbur Sprauve was charged with attempted rape and kidnapping. He was later convicted of unlawful sexual contact that same year and sentenced to probation and community service. Sprauve received a pardon from Governor Turnbull.

In 1994 Wakamba Rieara was charged with the first-degree murder of Halbert Bastian, age 17. The case was dismissed. He was next charged with assault and battery in 1998. That case was dismissed. He was arrested again in 1999, then he was placed on probation. Rieara was pardoned.
 
Twenty-six pardons and 11 commutations were granted. Included among those criminal convictions were four murders, three armed robberies, and six sex offender crimes.