ST. CROIX — Senator Samuel Carrión faces eviction from a café and bar on King Street in Frederiksted that he has leased for nearly three years for allegedly owing about $26,000 in outstanding rent and utility charges dating back to August 2023, according to a civil complaint.
Carrión listed the turn-key deli, coffee shop, and bar, known as Taiguey, for sale with photos on Facebook five weeks ago in a post on the private group page of “St. Croix Vi Buy Or Sell Your Stuff 24/7.” No price was listed but individuals were asked in the post to make an offer.
The landlord, Strand Square LLC, filed a complaint Wednesday in Superior Court on St. Croix through attorney Ethan Peterson, of Westfall Law PLLC in Gallows Bay. The landlord is asking the court to order Carrión and all other occupants of the property to immediately vacate the premises at 69C King Street. A judgment against Carrión for outstanding amounts due, including attorneys’ fees, has also been requested.
Carrión signed a three-year lease with a three-year renewal option on October 13, 2021, according to court documents. The base rent from October 1, 2023 to September 30 was listed at $1,856.58, with late charges beginning at 5% after five days. There was also a common area maintenance charge of $60 per month and a $100 monthly generator fee, bringing the monthly rent to $2,016.58. The base rent from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 was $1,802.50.
Since December 29, 2023, the landlord has been invoicing Carrión a monthly rent amount of $1,802.50 plus a $60 common area maintenance charge as well as a $139.18 late fee, totaling $2,001.68. A $100 monthly generator fee was added to the May 29 invoice, bringing that month’s total to $2,101.68.
Carrión allegedly owes $26,235.77 in past due amounts from August 12, 2023 to August 2, including $9,175.30 in utility charges for electricity.
The landlord served a seven-day demand for payment on Carrión on August 12, demanding the senator pay within seven days an outstanding balance through July in the amount of $22,119.73. The demand letter, signed by Peterson, notified Carrión about the potential for the property owner to institute legal proceedings against him to recover possession of the premises as well as any past due rent if he failed to comply with the notice.
The landlord seeks to recover possession of the premises pursuant to the Virgin Islands Code, Title 28, Chapter 31, which outlines the landlord and tenant laws. The landlord is entitled to reimbursement of any attorneys’ fees incurred to enforce the provisions of the lease agreement upon a breach by the tenant pursuant to the lease agreement in Sections 11 and 22(i).
A request for comment from Carrión was not received as of the time of publication of this story.
A hearing on the claim against Carrión has been set for 10 a.m. September 16 before Judge Ernest Morris Jr. in courtroom 216 of the Superior Court on St. Croix.
