Ronald Pickard

Ronald Pickard was born in Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands, on August 23, 1969, to Mary Ann Pickard. His mother and sister served in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands. He graduated from the West Indies Academy.^[2][1]

At the 1986 World Aquatics Championships and 1987 Pan American Games Pickard participated in swimming events.^[3] At the 1988 Summer Olympics Pickard participated in three swimming events as part of the Virgin Islands team. He placed 13th in the 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay, 47th in the 50 metre freestyle, and 58th in the 100 metre freestyle.^[4] He signed onto the swimming team of Alabama A&M University in 1988, but could not come to school for the first three weeks due to the Olympics.^[5]

Pickard and Dean Bates, both members of the United States Virgin Islands Police Department, were charged with the May 10, 1999, alleged rape of a nightclub dancer.^[6] In August,^[7] a grand jury indicted Pickard and Bates on sixteen counts of first-degree rape, civil rights violations, and firearms violations. Bates and Pickard's civil rights violations dated back to December 1996.^[8] Another grand jury indicted Bates, Pickard, Victor Suarez, and Renaldo Philbert on fifteen counts of assault and intimidation of witnesses in February 2000. However, eight of the charges were dropped due to the statue of limitations ending.^[7]

On July 26, 2000, a jury ruled Suarez not guilty on all charges, Bates found guilty on four charges, Philbert found guilty on three charges, and Pickard found guilty on seven charges. Pickard and Bates were found not guilty on the two charges of rape.^[9] On July 5, 2001, Pickard was sentenced to serve 8 years and 10 months.^[10]

During their prison sentence Pickard, Bates, and Philbert were accused of trying to arrange the murder of a FBI agent and his family.^[11] Pickard served ten years of his sentence in a federal prison. After leaving prison he graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor's degree and master's degree. He attempted to enter a law school in Georgia, but family issues prevented him.^[2][12]

Pickard later stated that the police department was corrupt and had more mobsters than the mafia. He claimed that he was set up for opposing corruption in the department.^[12]

Pickard was initially a member of the Democratic Party and once chaired the Young Democrats of America, but later joined the Republican Party.^[2] He was a member of the U.S. Virgin Islands' delegation to the 2024 Republican National Convention.^[13]

On July 24, 2022, Pickard announced that he would run for governor in the 2022 election as an independent candidate with Elroy Turnbull as his running mate.^[12] Democratic nominee Albert Bryan Jr. won the election while Pickard and Turnbull placed fourth.^[14] Pickard filed a complaint to the Virgin Islands Elections System accusing people of being paid to register to vote and purchasing of votes.^[15]

Pickard was the Republican nominee for the United States Virgin Islands' at-large congressional district in the 2024 election. He lost to Democratic nominee Stacey Plaskett.^[16] During the election he raised $19,683 and spent $18,463.^[2]