PHILIPSBURG:--- The Court of First Instance of Sint Maarten sentenced two men to prison on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, for their involvement in the armed robbery of Ocean Jewelers at the JW Marriott Hotel in Oyster Pond on October 17, 2025.
M.Y.F. received a five-year prison sentence, while K.O.R. received six years. Both were convicted of participating in the robbery, during which employees were threatened with firearms and a hammer was used to smash display cases containing jewelry.
The robbery occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. when three masked men entered the jewelry store. One of the robbers threatened employees with a firearm while the others smashed display cases and removed jewelry, including gold items, watches, and diamonds. The perpetrators fled with the stolen goods.
In separate proceedings on October 14, 2026, another defendant, B., was convicted of participating in the same robbery and unlawful firearm possession. He received an additional two-year prison sentence, following a six-year sentence imposed in April 2026 for a separate armed robbery at a jewelry store at Simpson Bay Resort, investigated under the name Mazda. B. was acquitted of a separate charge of preparing a murder.
The Court found that M.Y.F. and K.O.R. knowingly participated in the Ocean Jewelers robbery, although their roles differed.
In the case against M.Y.F., the Court relied on evidence including surveillance footage, telephone communications, witness statements, and DNA evidence. The evidence established his involvement in the robbery and his connection to the other perpetrators.
In the case against K.O.R., the Court considered telephone records, GPS information, communications between those involved and his own statements. The Court found that he had participated in preparations for the robbery and assisted the perpetrators by providing transportation.
Both men were convicted of theft accompanied by violence and threats of violence, committed jointly with others, with the aim of facilitating the theft and securing possession of the stolen goods.
In determining the sentences, the Court considered the serious nature of the robbery, including the use of firearms, threats against employees and the deliberate planning and coordination among those involved.
The Court found that the robbery was not a spontaneous act but a carefully planned operation involving several individuals who worked together to carry it out. The offenders acted in broad daylight at a hotel frequented by tourists, placing employees and others at risk.
The Court emphasized that such violent crimes cause fear among victims and the wider community and can damage Sint Maarten's reputation as a safe tourist destination. It also considered that the robbery was motivated by financial gain.
The Prosecutor's Office had requested five years' imprisonment for M.Y.F. and six years for K.O.R. The Court imposed those sentences, with credit for time already spent in pretrial detention.