District of the Virgin Islands
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces YouTube Video Promoting Project Safe Neighborhoods, Project Guardian, and the USVI Crime Stoppers PartnershipRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today a YouTube video promoting the partnership between the USVI Project Safe Neighborhoods, Project Guardian, and Crime Stoppers. This initiative encourages reporting violent and gun-related crimes as a means of combatting violent crime and illegal guns in the Territory. This renewed partnership targets violence in the Territory in attempt to reduce crime and make our island a safer place to live. The public service announcement (PSA) is titled “U.S. Virgin Islands Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Crime Stoppers PSA”. The video is accessible on YouTube (https://youtu.be/9FEUfmCEgAI) and emphasizes the importance of “if you see something, say something.” The PSA was created to encourage more community intelligence sharing with law enforcement in the USVI.
According to U.S. Attorney Shappert, "Project Safe Neighborhoods is a centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy. Together with our Project Guardian firearms prosecution initiative, PSN is a tested and proven program to invest in our communities and foster vital partnerships. PSN enables the United States Attorney’s Office, together with our law enforcement partners, to target and prioritize criminal prosecutions on the most violent people in the most violent areas. Second, we engage with a wide variety of stakeholders—from federal and local law enforcement, to community groups, educators, faith-based organizations, and victims’ advocates—in order to identify the needs specific to our communities and to develop strategies to reduce crime.”
“While federal law enforcement and prosecutors work to take violent offenders off our streets, we are collaborating with USVI Crime Stoppers and members of this community who care deeply about the well-being of our Island home. Please support this effort by sharing our video and audio clip,” Shappert said.
Individuals wanting to know more about Project Safe Neighborhoods can check out the
Project Safe Neighborhoods website. For those wishing to participate in the PSN initiative, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 340-774-5757.To find more information about Crime Stoppers or report an anonymous tip online go to http://www.crimestoppersvi.org/ to submit a web tip. Two other easy ways to submit a Tip and possibly receive a cash reward by Calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) where you will be connected to a trained representative who will assist you or on your mobile device using the P3 Tips App. where you can provide crime-solving information, submit photos of suspects and videos of crimes, and have two-way conversations with Crime Stoppers about the crime, their tip, and a reward, ALL WHILE REMAINING ANONYMOUS.
St. Croix Man Who Denied Knowing the Whereabouts of a Fugitive Pleads Guilty to Providing False Statement to F.B.I. InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Clintford Joseph, Jr. age 54, of St. Croix pled guilty on October 13, 2020 in federal court to Providing a False Statement to law enforcement investigators with respect to the whereabouts of Paul Girard, Jr. a/k/a “Bogus”.
According to court documents, U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon issued a warrant for Girard’s arrest on Oct. 28, 2020 and Joseph “harbored and concealed” Girard between around October 23rd and November 4th. Joseph also knowingly made a false statement to law enforcement officers on November 5th when he told federal investigators that he was unaware Girard “was staying in the bedroom located above the garage of a residence located at 84 Clairmont, St. Croix,” where Joseph, Jr. was the caretaker.
Agents later learned that Girard had been staying in a bedroom above the garage at the Clairmont residence for over a week prior and that Joseph, Jr. in fact knew Girard was staying there when he advised the agents to the contrary. Girard was ultimately arrested at the Clairmont residence on a warrant for a violation of supervised release.
Joseph, Jr. faces up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00. A sentencing date has been set for February 11, 2021.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz.
Federal Grand Jury Returns Superseding Indictment Charging Cruise Ship Crew Member with Sexual Assault and Hate CrimeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – On October 8, 2020, a federal Grand Jury in St. Thomas returned a two-count superseding indictment against Louie Ison Mangampat, 37, of the Philippines, charging him with one count of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of committing a hate crime, United States Attorney Gretchen Shappert announced.
The indictment stems from Mangampat allegedly sexually assaulting a crew member on board a Celebrity cruise ship in September of 2019. The superseding indictment adds the hate crime offense to the original Grand Jury indictment previously returned on November 7, 2019. Under federal law, Mangampat faces a maximum sentence of up to life in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that an indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of investigations and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
St. Thomas Man Who Mailed Drugs Concealed in Candy Bar Wrappers Sentenced to Prison for Mailing a Package Containing CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney, Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that Kemo Riley, 43, of St. Thomas was sentenced for mailing a package containing cocaine.
According to court documents filed in this case, Riley mailed a package to an individual in New York containing more than 250 grams of cocaine concealed in candy bar wrappers. The package was mailed from the Ottley post office in St. Thomas, V.I. and it was seized on May 28, 2019 by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in San Juan, P.R. who discovered the cocaine inside the candy wrappers. Surveillance video from the Ottley post office showed Riley mailing the package. Riley had been previously convicted for unauthorized possession of a firearm in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.
United States District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy sentenced Riley to fifteen (15) months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Homeland Security, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Juan Albino and Nathan Brooks.
St. Thomas Man Apprehended in Hospital Ground Sentenced to Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Aubrey Frett, 31, was sentenced today on his conviction for possession of marijuana and crack cocaine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy, sentenced Frett to 18 months incarceration, three years supervised release, $1,000 fine, and ordered him to pay $200 as a special assessment.
According to the trial record, members of the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) were seeking to execute an arrest warrant on Frett when they spotted him under a car port in the area of Hospital Ground. A chase ensued and officers noticed Frett discard an object over a fence. A search of the area discovered a firearm linked to Frett. Officers apprehended Frett and discovered baggies of marijuana and a vile containing crack cocaine.
On January 24, 2020, a St. Thomas federal jury convicted Frett of the marijuana and crack cocaine offenses.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Man Apprehended on a Dinghy North of St. John Sentenced for Transporting an Illegal Alien from TortolaRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that Ahmaud Rodriguez, 25, was sentenced on his conviction of transporting an illegal alien.
According to court documents filed in the case, on December 7, 2019, Rodriguez agreed to transport an illegal alien from Tortola, BVI to St. Thomas, USVI for a cash payment. Around 4:30 a.m. on December 8th, Rodriguez arrived in a small dinghy vessel at a ferry dock in Tortola, BVI where he met his illegal passenger. Rodriguez collected his fee and made his way with the passenger into U.S. waters. Meanwhile, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents patrolling the waters north of St. John observed a vessel on their radar at approximately 4:40 a.m. The vessel was operating without navigation lights and accordingly, agents stopped and boarded the boat to conduct an inspection.
Upon boarding, agents observed Rodriguez and a female passenger. The passenger acknowledged that she had flown from the Dominican Republic to Tortola, BVI where she met Rodriguez and boarded his boat for the trip to St. Thomas.
District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy sentenced Rodriguez to six months of imprisonment, substituted by six months of home detention and four years of probation.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office of the Virgin Islands.
Two Puerto Rico Natives Apprehended at St. Thomas Hotel, Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute 30 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Rafael Velez-Lopez, 24, and Emanuel Campbell Camacho, 29, of Vieques, PR, appeared today before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for preliminary and detention hearings after being taken into custody by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at the Windward Passage Hotel last Friday. Velez-Lopez and Camacho were charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. At the conclusion of the hearing, Magistrate Judge Miller detained Velez-Lopez and Camacho pending formal charges in this case.
According to court records, on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, DEA agents received intelligence concerning two unidentified males who had recently traveled by commercial flight from Puerto Rico to St. Thomas, and were driving a purple Jeep Wrangler. The first individual was described as a light-skin Puerto Rican male with blonde, shoulder length hair, and was later identified as Emanuel Campbell Camacho. The second individual was described as a Puerto Rican male with multiple tattoos on his arms, and was later identified as Carlos Rafael Velez-Lopez.
After two days of surveillance, on September 24, 2020, DEA agents tracked Velez-Lopez and Camacho to the Windward Passage Hotel as the vehicle they were occupying entered the gated parking area of the hotel. Later, at approximately 7:15 p.m., Camacho was observed leaning into the passenger side of the vehicle, and moments later, he was observed carrying a large, heavily weighted duffle type bag into the hotel courtyard. As he proceeded into the courtyard of the Windward Passage Hotel, agents observed Camacho carrying the weighted duffle bag up the stairs leading to the second floor level of the hotel. As the agents approached Camacho, they saw Lopez-Velez near the top of the stairs, sitting on a bench with a cell phone in his hands. Both Camacho and Lopez-Velez were taken into custody. Agents later discovered 30 brick-shaped objects in the black duffle bag that Camacho was carrying. A sample taken from one of the bricks tested positive for the presence of cocaine.
This case is being investigated by DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia L. Smith. United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that a complaint is merely a charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
St. Croix Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Carl Nicholas Decicco, 35, of St. Croix, was sentenced today for failure to register as a sex offender, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy sentenced Decicco to 9 months and 2 weeks in federal prison followed by a period of supervised release, to include two weeks of home confinement, and ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment.
Decicco was convicted of first degree unlawful sexual contact on May 19, 2004 and was required to register as a sex offender as a result of that conviction. He was arrested after failing to update his information on the sex offender registry during a period from March 2018 to August 2019. Decicco pled guilty to the one-count indictment on December 9, 2019, and has been in custody since that time.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.Convicted Impersonator Charged with Contempt of Court/Witness Tampering and Obstruction of Justice While Pending Federal Charges of Defrauding Elderly Victims, Impersonating Federal and Territorial Officials, and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that a federal complaint has been filed charging Yamini Potter with one count of contempt of court/witness tampering and obstruction of justice in violation of 18 U.S.C. §402 and §1512. Potter is currently charged with eighty counts of wire fraud, two counts of impersonating a federal judge, and obstruction of justice in violation of federal law and two counts of acting in assumed character and one count of grand larceny in violation of Virgin Islands law. Potter’s next court date is Thursday, September 24, 2020.
According to the affidavit filed in this case, between September 3-14, 2020, Potter violated a court order which expressly prohibited Potter from contacting the alleged victims in this case. Potter is currently in custody pending federal charges and local charges for larceny. All of his phone calls are recorded. The affidavit further alleges that Potter, while impersonating Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George, called the victims in this case multiple times telling them not to testify or cooperate. He even admitted knowing there was a violation of the no contact court order.
The affidavit further alleges that Potter, pretending to be Ms. George, tells the victims not to come to court or speak with the FBI. Potter, acting as Ms. George, tells the victims Potter is dangerous because Potter committed a murder, has been in jail for murder, and describes the violence caused upon his purported victim. Potter further threatens one of the victims with murder and injury if they testify against him.
Prior court documents reveal that Potter pled guilty in 2015 to impersonating an FBI agent in violation of federal law. He was sentenced to one year in prison for that offense.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Virgin Islands Police Department, and the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alessandra P. Serano.
United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert encourages anyone, and especially elderly victims, who may be a victim of fraud – or of any other crime - to come forward and make a report to the FBI at (340) 777-3363. U.S. Attorney Shappert also reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, please see: https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
USA Shappert Announces Launch of V.I. Health Care Fraud Task ForceRead the Press Release
USA Shappert Announces Launch of V.I. Health Care Fraud Task Force
St. Thomas, USVI – Federal and territorial officials and law enforcement officers convened last week to take the fight against health care fraud to the next level, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today. The first meeting of the Virgin Islands Health Care Fraud Task Force was conducted on a viral platform, thereby permitting the participants to share information and develop strategies for the Territory.“We all share the same concerns about the devastating effects of health care fraud,” Shappert said. “We are committed to protecting potential victims, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and ensuring the integrity of our health care system.”
The task force is composed of representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). Virgin Islands’ representatives include Julita de Leon, Coordinator of the VI Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; Gary Smith, Director of the V.I. Medicaid Program, and Aimee Griles, Senior Medicare Patrol Project Director.
The V.I. Medicaid Program received federal funds in the amount of $126 million in FY2020 and FY2021. The 2020 COVID-19 Families First legislation provided the Virgin Islands with additional federal funds totaling $2.9 million for FY2020 and $1.9 million for FY2021. “With these increased levels of funding in the territory, the task force is an important step in our efforts to increase our collaboration with the Virgin Islands Justice Department, health care agencies, and law enforcement partners,” Shappert said. “The fight against criminal and civil health care fraud is a top priority for my office, and the task force strengthens our capacity to fight health care fraud through a collaborative approach.”
To report suspected health care fraud, please contact:
HHS-OIG: 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477); [email protected]
FBI: (340) 777-3363; tips.fbi.gov
V.I. Justice Department (340) 774-5666
U.S. Attorney’s Office (340) 774-5757Romeo Walter, Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearms in Hospital Ground Area of St. Thomas, Arrested in Oklahoma Traffic StopRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that a complaint has been unsealed which charges Romeo Walter with Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number; Possession of a Firearm within a School Zone; Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number within the Territory of the Virgin Islands; and Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm within the Territory of the Virgin Islands. The defendant was apprehended yesterday during a traffic stop, outside of Oklahoma City. He is expected to make his initial appearance on the federal complaint filed in the District of the Virgin Islands today in the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to the affidavit filed in this case, on April 8, 2020, Virgin Islands Police Officers investigating recent shootings in the Hospital Ground neighborhood of St. Thomas pursued a group of men that fled as the officers entered the Jah Yard area. Walter was identified as one of the four men who fled. One of the men, Kenan Thomas, was arrested after allegedly hiding two bags he carried while fleeing to a nearby residence. The bags contained four firearms—an AK-47 pistol, an AR-15 pistol, a .45 caliber handgun, and a 10 mm handgun—and over 200 rounds of ammunition. Walter allegedly had possessed the firearms contained in the two black bags. According to the affidavit, Walter’s DNA was recovered from one of the black bags containing the firearms; from two of the firearms; and from two AK pistol magazines. Walter is prohibited from carrying firearms, as he was previously convicted of multiple felonies in Arizona.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
A complaint is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
USVI Law Enforcement Agents and Members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National OCDETF Award for Operation PY Beto Kilo and Drug Interdiction EffortsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that federal and local Virgin Islands law enforcement officers, together with members of the Virgin Islands U.S. Attorney’s Office, have been selected as the recipients of a national award for an outstanding Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, Operation PY Beto Kilo. “This National OCDETF Award is an acknowledgement of the tremendous work of law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to dismantle and disrupt transnational drug organizations. Together, we are apprehending the major drug dealers, the money-launderers, and the gun smugglers who threaten our way of life in the Territory. This success is just the start. Law enforcement is on the march. We will continue to arrest and prosecute narco-traffickers and seize their ill-gotten gains.” Shappert said. Law enforcement agency award recipients include: the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Coast Guard (USGC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF), U.S. Air Force (USAF), Virgin Islands National Guard (VING), Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), and the Virgin Islands U.S. Attorney’s Office (VI-USAO).
The Py Beto Kilo investigation focused on a sophisticated and structured drug trafficking organization that transported cocaine from Columbia through Venezuela on fishing vessels across the Caribbean Sea to an area 60 to 80 miles south of St. Croix. The drug trafficking organization, led by Jose Hodge in St. Croix, Omy Gutierrez-Calderon in Puerto Rico, and Sergio Quinones-Davila in Florida, operated with a high level of sophistication utilizing Venezuelan fishing fleets with established transportation routes to conduct mid-sea transfer. The organization sent decoy vessels ahead of the cocaine vessels. The cocaine vessels were equipped with a mechanism to sink the cocaine if a vessel were detected by law enforcement. Members of the organization communicated at sea using satellite telephones, Blackberries and Pin to Pin messaging. This mode of operation allowed the organization to engage in large-scale drug trafficking undetected for a number of years. Transporters from St. Croix and Puerto Rico, traveled in go-fast boats and met vessels at pre-determined GPS coordinates to conduct mid-sea transfers of cocaine. Members of the organization then transported the drugs to St. Croix and later transshipped them to Puerto Rico. A small quantity of drugs were distributed on St. Croix.
The investigation, led by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on St. Croix, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies, identified 17 members of the organization: two (2) in South America, three (3) in St. Croix, ten (10) in Puerto Rico, and two (2) in Florida. The investigation also revealed that the organization smuggled approximately 50 to 100 kilograms of cocaine per shipment every few months. The cocaine sold for about $14,000 per kilogram on St. Croix, and $24,000 per kilogram on Puerto Rico. During the course of the investigation, approximately $1,500,000.00, 300 kilograms of cocaine and several firearms were seized from this organization.
In 2016, the United States Attorney’s Office secured an indictment charging fifteen (15) members of the organization with drug trafficking offenses. Six members were convicted on guilty pleas, charges were dismissed against two (2) defendants, and the remaining six members went to a trial in the spring of 2017. The original trial lasted eight (8) weeks and ended in a hung jury due to suspected jury tampering. All six remaining defendants were convicted after a second trial in the spring and summer of 2018 that also lasted eight weeks.
U.S Attorney Shappert noted that the OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack and reduce the supply of illegal drugs in the United States and to diminish the violence and other criminal activity associated with the drug trade. It is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney General’s strategy to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics. “OCDETF operates nationwide and combines the resources and the expertise of federal agencies, working in conjunction with their local partners, to target drug trafficking, gun smuggling, and money laundering organizations,” she said. “OCDETF agents, task force officers, and prosecutors handle complex investigations and prosecutions of the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and other priority transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States. OCDETF facilitates joint operations by focusing its partner agencies on priority targets, by managing and coordinating multi-agency efforts, and by leveraging intelligence information derived from numerous sources.” The OCDETF awards recognize outstanding investigations from each of the OCDETF partner agencies.
The OCDETF program provides federal resources to federal and other partner law enforcement agencies to mitigate financial obstacles hindering criminal investigations. These criminal investigations are conducted by multi-agencies in a collaborated effort. OCDETF’s provide assets needed to conduct thousands of criminal investigations, which traverse the United States, the territories, and in some instances span to criminal organizations operating in foreign countries.
In OCDETF’s coordinated attack against drug trafficking and money laundering organizations, OCDETF formulated the Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT) list. The CPOT list is a multi-agency target list of “command and control” elements of the most prolific international drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Through the combined efforts of law enforcement agencies operating under the OCDETF umbrella, CPOTs are targeted with the goal of disrupting or dismantling their operations.
OCDETF’s mission is straightforward: to arrest drug traffickers, dismantle and disrupt drug trafficking and money laundering organizations, reduce the illegal drug supply, seize assets, and bring criminals to the United States justice system or other competent jurisdictions.
Two Charged Attempting to Board Flight at Cyril E. King International Airport with 865 grams of Cocaine and $11,000 cashRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced that earlier today, Julio Soto Robles and Gregory Vega were charged in federal court with possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to distribute.
According to court records, on August 18, 2020, Soto Robles and Vega arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport on a flight from Puerto Rico with no luggage. During a primary inspection by Customs and Border Protection agents, Soto Robles was found to be in possession of $11,000 in U.S. currency. On August 20, 2020, Soto Robles and Vega returned to the Cyril E. King airport and attempted to board a flight bound for Puerto Rico. During the secondary inspection process, Customs and Border Protection agents searched a carry-on bag that the two men were carrying. Agents discovered approximately 865 grams, or just under two pounds, of cocaine inside the bag.
A detention hearing will be held before Magistrate Ruth Miller on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security.St. Thomas Man Sentenced to Prison for Smuggling 23 Kilos of Cocaine Through the Cyril E. King AirportRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Shahime Ludvig, Jr., 22, of St. Thomas, was sentenced today on his conviction of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy, sentenced Ludvig to 33 months incarceration, five years supervised release, and ordered him to forfeit $1,991 to the United States, and pay a $100 special assessment.
According to court records, on September 24, 2018, Ludvig appeared at the Cyril E. King Airport with approximately 23 kilos of cocaine in his luggage. He checked the luggage and proceeded to the departure lounge to board a Delta Airlines flight to Atlanta Georgia. During a routine screening, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) discovered the cocaine. CBP located Ludvig at the departure lounge and detained him. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrived at the airport and placed Ludvig under arrest. Ludvig ultimately pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle the cocaine.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Violet Anne Golden Sentenced for Theft of Government Funds and Failing to File Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that Violet Anne Golden, the former chairperson of the Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission, was sentenced to 24 months in prison following an earlier guilty plea to Theft of Government Funds and Failing to File an Income Tax Return. Golden was also ordered to pay restitution.
According to public documents filed in the case, Golden admitted to diverting nearly $300,000 in Commission funds for her own personal benefit and the benefit of others through bank wires, writing Commission checks, and using Commission credit cards. In addition, Golden failed to timely file an income tax return, despite earning an annual salary of $105,000.
Ms. Golden was taken into custody on January 14, 2020, following the entry of her guilty pleas in federal court, and she has been in custody since that time.
U.S. Attorney Shappert praised the Office of the Virgin Island Inspector General, IRS-Criminal Investigations and the FBI for their important work in this investigation. “Territorial and federal investigators have worked tirelessly to expose this serious abuse of the public trust. We hope that yesterday’s sentencing will remind everyone that pubic officials are not above the law.”Special Agent in Charge Michael J. De Palma, of IRS Criminal Investigation, Miami Field Office, said, “High ranking officials perpetrating a fraud scheme by utilizing funds from the Government of the Virgin Islands betray the public’s trust. We are all responsible for abiding by the tax laws, regardless of anyone’s position of authority. Choosing not to file a tax return is a crime punishable by law. The IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to investigating individuals who violate their tax responsibilities. IRS-CI, with assistance from the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue will continue our collective efforts to enforce the law and foster public trust.”
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General, and IRS-Criminal Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nathan Brooks.
Dominican Republic Citizen Charged with Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that a federal complaint has been filed charging Eilin Castillo-Montano with illegally reentering the United States. According to court documents, authorities received information in May of 2020 that an individual who had previously been deported from the United States was living in a residential neighborhood on St. Thomas. The ensuing investigation revealed that the individual was Eilin Castillo-Montano.
Criminal and immigration records checks confirmed that on April 19, 2016, Eilin Castillo-Montano was removed from the United States by Immigration Officers of the Immigration & Naturalization Service and returned to his native country, the Dominican Republic, following his conviction for possessing a firearm by an illegal alien on August 31, 2015, in the District Court of the United States.
Eilin Castillo-Montano was apprehended by law enforcement on August 10, 2020. According to court documents, he acknowledged that he entered the U.S. Virgin Islands in January of 2020, travelling by boat form Tortola, British Virgin Islands to St. John and then to St. Thomas.
A detention hearing was held before the Honorable Ruth Miller on Tuesday August 11, 2020. Castillo-Montano was released to home incarceration, among other conditions.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement.
Convicted Impersonator Arrested for Defrauding Elderly Victims, Impersonating Federal and Territorial Officials, and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that a federal complaint has been filed charging Yamini Potter with eighty counts of wire fraud, two counts of impersonating a federal judge, obstruction of justice in violation of federal law, two counts of acting in assumed character, and one count of grand larceny in violation of Virgin Islands law.
According to the affidavit filed in this case, between May 2019 and July 2020, Potter received over $100,000 from the victims, at least one of whom is elderly, for purported legal fees associated with a lawsuit filed against the United States. Potter claimed he could assist the victims with a lawsuit to obtain a money judgment and return of one of the victim’s medical licenses. Investigators located no such lawsuit anywhere in the United States. Potter is not a licensed attorney in any jurisdiction in the United States.
Initially, Potter claimed to be the son of former Lt. Governor Osbert Potter. According to court documents, Yamini Potter is not Osbert Potter’s son. The affidavit alleges that Potter used this supposed familial connection to influence his victims to pay money for the alleged lawsuit and claimed that the victims could expect to recover millions of dollars. The affidavit further alleges that, Potter also impersonated Osbert Potter, former federal District Judge Curtis Gomez, federal Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller, and Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George for fraudulent purposes. According to the affidavit, Potter telephoned his victims pretending to be various people, including himself, while he was detained in the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections, pending charges in the Virgin Islands Superior Court. All of his calls were recorded. Potter also allegedly sent text messages to the victims as part of his fraudulent scheme, and in at least one case, tried to persuade the victims to destroy text messages he sent to them.
According to court documents, Potter pled guilty in 2015 to impersonating an FBI agent in violation of federal law. He was sentenced to one year in prison.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Virgin Islands Police Department, and the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alessandra P. Serano.
United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert encourages anyone, and especially elderly victims, who may be a victim of fraud – or of any other crime - to come forward and make a report to the FBI at (340) 777-3363. U.S. Attorney Shappert also reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, please see: https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice .
Georgia Man Caught with Drugs Who Absconded from the Territory Sentenced for Illegally Bringing Marijuana Through the Cyril E. King AirportRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Keenan Powell-Ryder, 24, was sentenced today following his guilty plea for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy, sentenced Powell-Ryder to 21 months incarceration, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $100 as a special assessment.
According to court documents, on April 19, 2016, Powell-Ryder travelled on a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta to St. Thomas with secreted bundles of marijuana in his checked luggage. After the flight landed at the Cyril E. King Airport, a Customs and Border Protection canine alerted to a bag belonging to Powell-Ryder. Officers opened the bag and discovered approximately 15 kilograms of marijuana wrapped in cellophane plastic. Powell-Ryder ultimately admitted to transporting the marijuana.
The Court released Powell-Ryder pending a November 3, 2016 sentencing hearing. Powell-Ryder absconded, and the Court issued a warrant for his arrest. The United States Marshals Service located Powell-Ryder in Detroit, Michigan in December of 2019, and returned him to the Virgin Islands for sentencing.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Subcontractor Employee at Cyril E. King Airport Arrested After Discovery of over 4 ½ Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that a complaint has been filed charging Keilin Lopez Lopez with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
According to the affidavit filed in this case, on July 31, 2020 at approximately 6:30 p.m., a Virgin Islands Port Authority employee witnessed an adult male tampering with a trashcan in a stall in the men’s restroom located inside the Cyril E. King terminal. Officers removed the trashcan from the wall revealing an open recess in between both sides of the interior wall. One (1) large, brick shaped bundle and one (1) small, brick shaped bundle containing approximately 4.6 kilograms of cocaine was lying at the bottom of the recess of the trashcan.
Airport video surveillance footage showed a male, later identified as Keilin Lopez Lopez, wearing a backpack enter the bathroom where the bundles were discovered. Officers located Mr. Lopez, who is an employee for a company contracted to work on the airport remodel. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Mr. Lopez waived them and stated he removed the trashcan from the wall in the restroom stall and placed the bundles inside the wall.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs
and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Juan Albino.United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Two St. Thomas Men Charged with Conspiracy, Carjacking and Brandishing a Firearm During A Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI- United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that an information was filed on July 22, 2020 charging Jahvid Alexander and Jestus Francis with federal and territorial offenses, including conspiracy, carjacking, robbery, drug possession, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to the information and other court documents, on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at approximately 11:00 p.m., two female victims reported an armed carjacking. Virgin Islands Police Department officers responded, obtained a description of the car and immediately directed police units to follow the suspected stolen vehicle. The vehicle and a blue Ford truck were observed traveling on Nadir Hill, a dead end road. Officers positioned themselves at that location and approximately 20 minutes later, the blue Ford truck was instructed by officers to pull over. The two suspects were located in the truck, along with stolen property from the victims, the keys belonging to the stolen car, two black masks, a loaded firearm, and other items linking the suspects to the offense. The stolen vehicle was located a short distance away. Video surveillance of the Havensight area, from which the car was stolen, shows the blue truck minutes before the crime circling and turning into the parking lot where the victims were located.
A detention hearing for Alexander is scheduled for July 27, 2020 and for Francis on July 29, 2020, before the Honorable Ruth Miller.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that an information is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.St. Thomas Airport Passenger Departing for California Arrested at Cyril E. King Airport for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that Gilberto Arana Wence was arrested on July 10, 2020 and charged with illegal re-entry by a removed alien.
According to court documents, Wence was departing St. Thomas for Charlotte, North Carolina and then on to San Francisco, California when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers determined he was not lawfully present in the United States. Based on record checks conducted using Wence’s fingerprints, officers discovered that he had previously been removed from the United States under a different name.
An initial appearance in federal court occurred on July 13, 2020.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper.
United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Virgin Islands U.S. Attorney’s Office and IRS-Criminal Investigation Remind Taxpayers to Remain Vigilant of ScamsTaxpayers of Upcoming Tax Filing Deadline and UrgeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert and Michael J. De Palma, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement today in an effort to remind taxpayers of the July 15 filing and payment deadline and warned against an increase in tax and COVID-19 scams.
Due to COVID-19, the original filing deadline and tax payment due date for 2019 was postponed from April 15 to July 15. Taxpayers filing Form 1040 series returns must file Form 4868 by July 15 to obtain the automatic extension to October 15.
Although the extension provides additional time to file the tax return – it is not an extension to pay any taxes due. For people facing hardships who cannot pay in full, including those affected by COVID-19, the IRS has several options available to help. The IRS encourages taxpayers to visit IRS.gov as soon as possible to explore these options and avoid accruing interest and penalties after the July 15 deadline.As the filing deadline approaches, taxpayers should beware of tax and COVID-19 related scams. “Con artists and scammers use every opportunity to take advantage of innocent people. Everyone should take care to protect their personal information—especially during tax season— and to resist ‘to-good-to-be-true’ claims related to COVID-19 and Economic Payment scams,” said U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert. “We always encourage concerned citizens to contact local or federal law enforcement if they receive emails or phone calls which seem suspicious. If you see something, say something.”
“Taxpayers should remain vigilant in the handling of their personal and financial information as criminals use this as an opportunity to take advantage of vulnerabilities,” said Michael J. De Palma Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation division in
Florida. “IRS-CI will continue to pursue these crimes and the perpetrators will be brought to justice.”
In the last few months, the IRS Criminal Investigation division (CI) has continued to see a tremendous increase in a variety of Economic Impact Payment scams and other financial schemes. CI continues to work with its law enforcement partners to put a stop to these schemes and bring criminals to justice.
Taxpayers can report COVID-19 scams to the National Center for Disaster Fraud. Taxpayers can also report fraud or theft of their Economic Impact Payments to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Unsolicited (phishing) e-mails that appear to be from the IRS should be forwarded to [email protected].For the most up-to-date information about the tax filing deadline and IRS impersonation scams, taxpayers can visit IRS.gov.
St. Thomas Airport Traveler Pleads Guilty to Causing a Firearm to be Present in a Federal FacilityRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that Wayne Smith pled guilty yesterday to causing a firearm to be present in a federal facility. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 29, 2020.
According to court documents filed in the case, on March 21, 2020, Smith was a ticketed airline passenger at Cyril E. King airport. He checked luggage that contained a Ruger LCP pistol and magazine, without notifying the airline or the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) that the luggage contained a firearm. The TSA subsequently discovered the firearm at the federal security checkpoint.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Sleeper.
Orlando Man Charged with Smuggling Orlando Man Charged with SmugglingRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Marvin Forbes, 50, of Orlando, FL, appeared today before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for an advice of rights hearing after being taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) at the Cyril E. King Airport last Friday. Forbes was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. At the conclusion of the hearing, Magistrate Judge Miller released Forbes on an unsecured $10,000 bond pending formal charges in this case.
According to court records, on Friday, June 19, 2020, Forbes arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas on Spirit Airlines flight #1609 which departed from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Upon arrival of the flight, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers conducted screening of all passengers’ checked luggage as they were being removed from the aircraft. During the inspection, CBP K-9 "Sherpa" alerted to a dark colored, hard-sided suitcase bearing a Spirit Airlines baggage tag that was assigned to Forbes.
Upon inspection of the Forbes’ suitcase, CBP officers discovered several vacuum sealed packages inside a light green bag. The suitcase was repackaged and later placed on the baggage carousel at the airport. At baggage claim, CBP officers observed Forbes as he removed the suitcase from the baggage carousel. A thorough inspection of Forbes’ suitcase revealed eight (8) vacuum sealed packages, each containing several smaller, individually vacuum sealed packages. A total of twenty seven (27) vacuum sealed packages weighing approximately 12.61 kilograms were discovered in FORBES’ luggage.
This case is being investigated by HSI and CBP, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Delia L. Smith.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that a complaint is merely a charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
United States Department of Justice Announces Launch of Civil Rights Reporting PortalRead the Press Release
A new online tool designed to help the public report civil rights violations
United States Attorney for the Virgin Islands, Gretchen C.F. Shappert, announced that earlier this week, the United States Department of Justice launched its new Civil Rights Reporting Portal. This new online tool will make it easier for the public to report civil rights violations.
“The department is committed to upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all people in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Reporting Portal will make it easier for the public to connect with us, which in turn makes us more effective at upholding these important rights. I encourage the public to use this portal to report civil rights violations.”
The Civil Rights Reporting Portal – located at civilrights.justice.gov – consolidates over 30 unique reporting pathways. The portal dramatically eases the burden on victims of civil rights violations to identify the proper reporting channel. The form is fully accessible to people with disabilities. It is also available in both English and Spanish, with more languages to be added over the next year. Members of the public will find it easier to tell their story, submit their report, and receive guidance on what to expect next. The new form is designed to help the Civil Rights Division receive information needed to process reports efficiently. Based upon users’ answers, the form routes reports to the most appropriate team in the Civil Rights Division. The teams will read and review every report, in order to determine how best to proceed.
Individuals who believe they may have been a victim of a civil rights violation can learn how to report violations to the Department by visiting civilrights.justice.gov. When appropriate, the Civil Rights Division staff will refer complainants to other agencies that are responsible for handling specific types of complaints.
According to U.S. Attorney Shappert, “The Civil Rights Reporting Portal is a user-friendly reporting platform that will enable federal prosecutors and agents to identify and respond to alleged civil rights violations. The range of federal civil rights protections is very broad and includes voting, housing and land use, lending and credit, public accommodations, education,
employment, policing, prisons and jails, disability rights, service-member rights and more. The Portal helps the Department to more easily hear from and respond to victims of civil rights violations from across the country”. Shappert noted that the Department’s Civil Rights Division receives approximately 100,000 contacts from the public each year regarding potential civil rights violations. “The need for more effective reporting opportunities is great, which is why Department personnel worked for over a year to design a more streamlined reporting process,” she said.
Shappert also emphasized that individuals who believe they are a victim of a criminal violation of their civil rights, such as misconduct by law enforcement officers, a hate crime, or human trafficking, should contact their local FBI office.
Approximately $2.25 Million in U.S. Currency Seized in Joint Federal Maritime Operation off the Western Coast of St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that On June 10, 2020, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs Border Patrol-Air Marine Operation (CBP-AMO) personnel reported that while on duty in the western vicinity of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, they spotted a vessel travelling towards St. Thomas from Puerto Rico without navigational lights. CBP-AMO officers observed two subjects on the unknown vessel, which was described as a 25’ twin engine “yola,” tossing duffle bags overboard as CBP-AMO approached. Federal law enforcement officers engaged in apprehension efforts and attempted to board the unidentified vessel.
The vessel was able to evade law enforcement during the pursuit, however, DHS and CBP-AMO officers later recovered four duffel bags that had been thrown overboard. A search of the four recovered duffel bags revealed approximately $2.25 million in bulk U.S. currency that was vacuum sealed within numerous bundles of plastic wrappings. This seizure is part of an ongoing joint federal initiative between the United States Attorney’s Office District of the Virgin Islands, HSI, DEA, FBI, ATF, IRS-CI and CBP-AMO as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) which is focused on disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations in the Caribbean and which seeks to seize and forfeit the proceeds of criminal activity.
Arizona Man Arrested for Marijuana in LuggageRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Armando Antonio Mena of Phoenix, Arizona was arrested June 12, 2020 and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance With the Intent to Distribute.
According to court documents, Mena, age 28, was traveling to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands from San Francisco, California via airline on May 27, 2020 with a checked bag that contained 22 individually wrapped vacuum sealed bags under articles of clothing. The vacuum wrapped bags contained a green leafy substance which tested positive for marijuana and which weighed approximately 10.78 kilograms.
An initial appearance in federal court occurred on June 12, 2020, followed by preliminary and release hearings on June 15, 2020.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz.
United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert reminds the public that a criminal complaint is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.St. Thomas Airport Traveler Sentenced for Possession of CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Aubrey Meyers, 64, was sentenced yesterday on his conviction for possession of cocaine, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
Meyers previously pled guilty to the charge on January 21, 2020. In his plea agreement, he admitted that, on or about October 27, 2019, at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, he possessed five small clear plastic bags containing a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Court records indicate that Meyers was a ticketed passenger onboard a Spirit Airlines flight destined for Orlando, Florida when a routine search of his luggage identified the five plastic bags containing approximately 136 grams of a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine.
District Court Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller sentenced Meyers to time served and a one-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Sleeper.Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting an Illegal Alien from TortolaRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that Ahmaud Rodriguez pleaded guilty to transporting an illegal alien. Rodriguez will be sentenced at a later date.
According to court documents filed in the case, on December 7, 2019, Rodriguez agreed to transport an illegal alien from Tortola, BVI to St. John, USVI for a cash payment. Just before 5:00 am, Rodriguez arrived in a small dinghy vessel at the St. John ferry dock in Tortola, BVI where he met his illegal passenger. Rodriguez collected his fee and made his way in to U.S. waters where he was stopped by Customs and Border Patrol agents just north of St. John.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office of the Virgin Islands. A complaint is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Third Man Arrested with Illegally Possessing Firearms in Hospital Ground Area of St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that fugitive Nijohntea Walker was arrested Friday afternoon by special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. A complaint was previously filed against Walker on April 30, 2020 for Possession of a Firearm within a school zone and Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm within the Territory of the Virgin Islands. Walker remained at large until Friday, May 22, 2020.
According to the affidavit filed in this case, on April 8, 2020 a video from a home surveillance camera located in the Hospital Grounds area of St. Thomas captured Walker climbing over a railing and onto a patio in view of the camera recording the video. Walker was in possession of a pistol which he proceeded to hide at the residence and returned later to retrieve it. The Memorial Moravian Elementary School is located within 1000 feet of the residence where the video surveillance was recorded. Walker does not have a license to carry firearms within the Territory of the Virgin Islands.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Payne, Juan Albino, and Everard Potter.
A complaint is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Passenger at Cyril E. King Airport Charged with Smuggling Marijuana to St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI –United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that an Information has been filed against Raquel Rivera for attempting to smuggle marijuana into St. Thomas. Rivera is scheduled to be arraigned on June 3, 2020 in St. Thomas.
According to public documents filed in the case, Rivera was stopped on April 22, 2020 at the Cyril E. King airport after arriving in St. Thomas from Miami, FL. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers then searched bags she was carrying and found in two separate pieces of luggage marijuana totaling over five kilograms.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and CBP. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nathan Brooks.
An Information is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Local Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing and Transporting a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number and Leaving a Designated Customs Facility Without AuthorizationRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Javier Enrique Lima pled guilty on Tuesday to: 1) possessing and transporting a firearm with an obliterated serial number; and 2) departing a customs facility without authorization, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to information provided in court and in court documents, on February 3, 2020, defendant presented himself at Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Red Hook ferry terminal after returning from Tortola, British Virgin Islands. A CBP Officer working the x-ray machine noticed a firearm in the backpack Lima brought with him, and called for another officer. Lima immediately fled the facility on foot, leaving his backpack. The backpack contained a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Law enforcement agents made multiple efforts to locate Lima, but were unable to do so. He later turned himself in.
The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and will be sentenced at a later date.
The case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and by Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donna Rainwater.
New COVID-19 Complaint Form for Reporting FraudRead the Press Release
DATELINE – U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert of the District of the Virgin Islands today urged the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus). If you think you are a victim of a scam or attempted fraud involving COVID-19, you can report it without leaving your home by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (1-866-720-5721) or by utilizing the newly released NCDF Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. In coordination with the Department of Justice, Attorney General William Barr has directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes identified in their communities.
U.S. Attorney Shappert emphasized the continuing importance of individual reporting of possible fraud schemes. "The NCDF has already received over 11,500 calls and emails, reporting possible COVID-19 fraud schemes. The new NCDF Complaint Form allows for more efficient reporting and a more prompt response by federal law enforcement," Shappert said. "We believe that this is another important tool in our toolbox."
The NCDF receives and enters complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorney Offices, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate, and prosecute fraud schemes. The NCDF coordinates complaints with 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities. The public is urged to provide information so that the NCDF and federal law enforcement can conduct the necessary investigations.
Scammers and fraudsters will likely continue to use new methods to exploit COVID-19 fraud schemes worldwide. Stay alert and stay informed about common fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. To find more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Second Man Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearms in Hospital Ground Area of St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that a complaint has been filed charging Akeem Julien with Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, Possession of a Firearm within a school zone and Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm within the Territory of the Virgin Islands.
According to the affidavit filed in this case, on April 8, 2020 a video from a home surveillance camera located in the Hospital Grounds area of St. Thomas captured Julien climbing over a railing and onto a patio in view of the camera recording the video. Julien was in possession of a black bag. Julien was observed in the video picking up a handgun and placing it inside a black bag in his possession. This black bag was found later in a nearby residence, and contained an AK-type 7.62mm pistol with an obliterated serial number; a Glock .45 caliber handgun and a Glock 10mm; and multiple magazines with various ammunition. The Memorial Moravian Elementary School is located within 1,000 feet of the residence where the video surveillance was recorded. Julien does not have a license to carry firearms within the Territory of the Virgin Islands.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Payne, Juan Albino and Everard Potter.
A complaint is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Smuggling Marijuana to St. Thomas Smuggling Marijuana to St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI –United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that a complaint has been filed against Raquel Rivera for attempting to smuggle marijuana into St. Thomas. Rivera made her initial appearance in federal court Thursday in St. Thomas.
According to the affidavit filed in the case, Rivera was stopped at the Cyril E. King airport after arriving in St. Thomas from Miami, FL. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers then searched bags she was carrying and found in two separate pieces of luggage marijuana totaling over five kilograms.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and CBP. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nathan Brooks.
A complaint is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three Puerto Rican Men Caught Smuggling over $3 Million Cash into St. Thomas Onboard a Vessel Near Brewer’s BayRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Jose Ramon Pimentel-Rivera, 29, Jerry Kirkland-Marrero, 29, and Kalihel Ramos de Jesus, 27, all of Puerto Rico, made their initial appearances before United States Magistrate Judge Miller today on a criminal complaint charging all three with concealing more than $100,000 onboard a vessel outfitted for smuggling, in violation of federal law, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to the affidavit filed in the case, on the night of April 21, 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine (AMO) agents were on patrol on a vessel near the entrance to Brewer’s Bay, St. Thomas, VI, when they noticed a vessel approaching without its navigation lights illuminated. The CBP AMO agents initiated a stop of the vessel by engaging the blue lights. In response, the three occupants of the vessel began throwing duffel bags overboard before coming to a stop.
After CBP AMO agents boarded the vessel and detained the three occupants, later identified as Pimentel Rivera, Kirkland-Marrero, and Ramos de Jesus, the agents recovered three duffel bags from the water that had been thrown overboard. A fourth duffel bag was discovered on the vessel. Agents estimate that the bags collectively contained at least $3 million dollars. One of the duffel bags was equipped with a GPS tracker. The vessel, which is registered in Puerto Rico, was outfitted with five fuel tanks.
This case is being investigated by CBP and the Department of Homeland Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith Edwards.
A complaint is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Passenger Arrested at Cyril E. King Airport for Smuggling 9 Kilograms of Marijuana into St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Michael Ervin Fuller, 21, of Baytown, Texas, made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Miller today on a criminal complaint charging him with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to the affidavit filed in the case, after Fuller arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport on an American Airlines Flight from Miami, Florida, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations (CBP OFO) drug-detection dog alerted to Fuller’s carry-on bag. Upon opening the bag, CBP officers discovered a total of 16 cellophane wrapped bundles of a green leafy substance. One of the bundles was field tested and reacted positive for the characteristics of marijuana. Collectively, the 16 bundles weighed approximately 9.69 kilograms. “During this global pandemic, CBP OFO frontline officers continue to work every day while putting themselves at risk to protect and stop the illegal introduction of contraband into the territory,” stated Area Port Director Todd Bellew. “CBP will continue its efforts to combat any illegal activities.”
This case is being investigated by CBP and the Department of Homeland Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith Edwards.
A complaint is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week April 19-25, 2020Read the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert joins the Department of Justice in observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 19-25, 2020. “Here in the U.S. Virgin Islands, prosecutors and staff recognize our continuing obligation to support and defend the victims of crime in the federal courts,” Shappert said. “It is imperative that the voices of victims are heard and that the rights of victims are acknowledged and defended. Advocacy on behalf of victims helps to ensure justice for all.”
President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, placing crime victims' rights, needs and concerns as a focal point on the American agenda. President Reagan also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the foundation for a national network of services and legal safeguards to support crime victims. Since 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) has challenged the Nation to confront and remove barriers to achieving justice for all victims of crime.
The scope of the problem is significant. Some 3.3 million Americans age 12 and older were victims of violent crime in 2018, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey. The Office for Victims of Crime, part of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, supports more than 7,000 local victim assistance programs and victim compensation programs in every state and U.S. territory. Funds for these programs come from the Crime Victims Fund, which is made up of federal criminal fines, penalties and bond forfeitures
Each year in April, the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorneys’ offices observe NCVRW by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. In addition, the Justice Department and U.S. Attorneys’ offices organize events to honor the victims and advocates, as well as bring awareness to services available to victims of crime. This year’s observance takes place April 19-25, with the theme: Seek Justice | Ensure Victims’ Rights | Inspire Hope.
This year, the annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony will be postponed until a time when we can honor this year’s award recipients in person. During the ceremony, OVC will present awards recognizing individuals and organizations from across the nation for their outstanding service on behalf of crime victims. The awardees will be selectedf rom public nominations in 11 categories, including federal service, special courage, public policy, and victim services. Visit www.ovc.gov/gallery to learn more about past recipients.
For more information on how to create your own public campaigns to raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at events throughout the year, please visit:https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw2020/overview.html.
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces $2,932,867 Award to Address COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S. Virgin IslandsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that the U.S. Virgin Islands received $2,932,867 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
The grant, awarded to the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission, is available under the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump. In addition, funds have been allocated to local jurisdictions. Those jurisdictions can find out if they are eligible and apply immediately by visiting this website. The Justice Department is moving quickly, awarding grants on a rolling basis and aiming to have funds available for drawdown as soon as possible after receiving applications.
U.S. Attorney Shappert stated, "The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted the U.S. Virgin Islands, just like every other community in America. These funds from the U.S. Department of Justice will assist the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission with projects and initiatives designed to support public safety in the Territory."
The law gives jurisdictions considerable latitude in the use of these funds for dealing with COVID-19. Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment and distributing resources to hard-hit areas. Funds may also be used to help correctional facilities cover costs related to COVID-19, including, but not limited to, sanitation, contagion prevention and measures designed to address the related medical needs of inmates, detainees and correctional personnel.
Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for the emergency funding. Local units of government and tribes will receive direct awards separately according to their
jurisdictions’ allocations. For a list of all awards thus far, visit the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Virgin Islands U.S. Attorney’s Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Virgin Islands Department of Justice Warn Taxpayers to be Alert for Scams Related to Covid-19 Economic Impact PaymentsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert, Special Agent in Charge Michael J. De Palma of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Director Joel A. Lee of the VI Bureau of Internal Revenue (the Bureau) and V.I. Attorney General Denise N. George, today warned taxpayers to be alert to possible scams relating to COVID-19, especially in connection with economic impact payments. The announcement is an effort to prevent taxpayers from being victimized by criminals using the recently approved COVID-19 payments as an opportunity to commit a crime.
U.S. Attorney Shappert stated, "Fraudsters who prey on vulnerable victims will be held accountable for their criminal conduct. Federal law enforcement and federal prosecutors urge the public to be aware of scams associated with the COVID-19 crisis and schemes designed to interfere with receipt of legitimate federal tax refunds and COVID-19 economic impact payments. We urge all Americans to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to federal law enforcement."
In the Virgin Islands, COVID-19 economic impact payments will be on their way during the month of May. For Virgin Islands taxpayers, this payment will be via check to the mailing address on the taxpayers’ 2018 individual income tax returns. Everyone receiving a COVID-19 related economic impact payment from the government is at risk.
Michael J. De Palma, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Miami Field Office warned, "Even as our Nation is enduring a State of Emergency, criminals will continue to engage in heinous acts to further enrich themselves demonstrating no sympathy by exploiting you during your most difficult circumstance."
Joel A. Lee, Director of the Bureau, reminded bona fide residents of the Virgin Islands that they should file and pay taxes to the Bureau. "The Economic Impact Payments, or the stimulus payments, will be coming directly to Virgin Islands taxpayers from the Department of Finance. Virgin Islands residents who fraudulently filed IRS returns or otherwise received an EIP from IRS must repay the IRS or be subject to possible criminal prosecution, since they are to receive their EIP directly from the US Virgin Islands," explained Director Lee.
"There is certainly a wave of COVID-19 fraud that focuses on all areas of consumer vulnerability. The Virgin Islands Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute violations of our anti-fraud laws. Nonetheless, it is more important than ever during these trying times that Virgin Islands residents remain vigilant by taking extra precautions to avoid becoming victimized," emphasized V.I. Attorney General Denise N. George.
These offices offer the following guidance to the public to warn about potential scams:
The Bureau, through the Department of Finance, will mail your check to the last known address on your 2018 tax return.
- Neither the Bureau nor IRS will call and ask you to verify your payment details. Do not give out your bank account, debit account, or PayPal account information – even if someone claims it’s necessary to get your check. The caller may be perpetrating a scam.
- If you receive a call relating to your tax return, don’t engage with possible scammers or thieves, even if you want to tell them that you know it’s a scam. The best advice is to just hang up the phone. If you receive texts or emails claiming that you can get your money faster by sending personal information or clicking on links, delete them. Don’t click on any links in those emails or texts.
- Reports are also circulating about bogus checks. It will take the Bureau and the Department of Finance several weeks to mail the checks out. If you receive a "check" for an odd amount (especially one with cents), or a check that requires that you verify the check online or by calling a number, it’s likely a fraud,
"During these unprecedented and uncertain times, Virgin Islanders need to come together and address the current challenges with a purpose," Shappert said. "Our citizens should not allow criminals to victimize innocent people by exploiting emotions during this crisis. Everyone is advised to stay connected and to inform law enforcement, family, and friends of any suspicious activity that may involve a fraud or financial scam."
"IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to pursue criminals who violate the law and attack our community. IRS-CI will work diligently alongside the Department of Justice and our law enforcement counterparts to identify scams, stop the con-artists in their tracks and bring them to justice." said. De Palma.
For more information, visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov/coronavirus. To learn more about Department of Justice resources, involving the COVID-19 crisis, visit the DOJ Website:
http://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
You can also contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo,gov.
Florida Passenger Arrested at Cyril E. King Airport for Smuggling 3 Kilograms of Marijuana into St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that a complaint has been filed against Nathaniel Robinson for attempting to smuggle marijuana into St. Thomas. Robinson made his initial appearance in federal court Monday in St. Thomas.
According to the affidavit filed in the case, Robinson was stopped at the Cyril E. King airport after arriving in St. Thomas from Miami, FL. CBP officers then searched his luggage and found the approximately 3 kilograms of marijuana.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne.
A complaint is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florida Passenger Arrested at Cyril E. King Airport for Smuggling 15 Kilograms Marijuana into St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that a complaint has been filed against Sheldon Stuart Isles for attempting to smuggle marijuana into St. Thomas. Isles made his initial appearance in federal court Monday in St. Thomas.
According to the affidavit filed in the case, Isles was stopped at the Cyril E. King airport after arriving in St. Thomas from Miami, FL. CBP officers then searched his luggage and found the approximately 15 kilograms of marijuana.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne.
A complaint is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Felon Charged with Illegally Possessing Firearms in Hospital Ground Area of St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that a complaint has been filed charging Kenan Thomas with Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
According to the affidavit filed in this case, on April 8, 2020 Thomas fled upon seeing officers investigating multiple shootings in the Hospital Ground area of St. Thomas. Thomas allegedly hid the black bags he had been carrying in a nearby residence, and those bags contained four different weapons, as well as ammunition. According to court documents, Thomas allegedly possessed an AK-type 7.62mm pistol with an obliterated serial number; an AR-type pistol caliber .223/5.56; a Glock .45 caliber handgun and a Glock 10mm. Thomas also allegedly possessed multiple magazines found with various ammunition. Thomas is prohibited from carrying firearms, as he was previously convicted of multiple felonies in Georgia.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Payne and Nathan Brooks.
A complaint is merely a charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Shappert Urges the Public to Report Suspected COVID-19 Fraud First Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlos Cardona Appointed as Coronavirus Fraud CoordinatorRead the Press Release
DATELINE – U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert of the District of the Virgin Islands today urged the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or by sending an email to the NCDF e-mail address, [email protected]. In coordination with the Department of Justice, Attorney General William Barr has directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes identified in their communities.
"Individuals and groups who seek to take unfair advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be tolerated," said U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert. "We are asking the public to notify the NCDF of individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud. Other examples of suspected COVID-19 fraud include: phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to electronic devices until payment is received; persons seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations; and medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures."
In a memorandum to U.S. Attorneys issued March 19, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen also directed each U.S. Attorney to appoint a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator to serve as the legal counsel for the federal judicial district on matters relating to the Coronavirus, direct the prosecution of Coronavirus-related crimes, and to conduct outreach and awareness activities. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlos Cardona will serve as the Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator in the U.S Virgin Islands.
The NCDF can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all
U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes. The NCDF coordinates complaints with 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities. The public is urged to provide information so that the NCDF and federal law enforcement can conduct the necessary investigations.
To find more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
St. Thomas Man Sentenced for Distributing MarijuanaRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Thomas Olive, II, 29, was sentenced yesterday on his conviction of possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
Evidence at Olive’s trial established that on December 11, 2018, he was the driver of a vehicle travelling on Main Street on St. Thomas with heavily tinted windows. Officers of the Virgin Islands Police Department ordered Olive out of the vehicle and discovered four pounds of marijuana packaged for distribution. VIPD also discovered $6,225 in cash and an unlicensed Glock firearm.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced Olive to four months incarceration, and six months home confinement. Judge Gomez also sentenced Olive to three years supervised release with 300 hours of community service. As part of his sentence Olive forfeits $6,225 in cash and was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Illinois Man Sentenced for Simple Possession of FentanylRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Marshall D. Miller, age 44, of Illinois, was sentenced on Monday, March 16th, to time served (i.e. 69 days) in prison for simple possession of fentanyl, by Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon, announced United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert. Judge Cannon also sentenced Miller to a term of supervised release to end upon completion of an inpatient substance abuse program at The Village, Virgin Islands Partners in Recovery but not to exceed one year, and ordered him to pay a fine of $1,000.000 and a special assessment of $25.00.
According to court records, a Virgin Islands police officer encountered Miller on January 7, 2020 as he walked towards the Limetree Bay housing facilities in St. Croix. The officer noticed that Miller was wobbling and appeared strange. He approached and inquired whether Miller required assistance and eventually called the ambulance for him. While awaiting arrival of the ambulance, Miller withdrew five plastic baggies from his pockets and threw them on the ground. The baggies contained fentanyl weighing about .7 grams. Miller arrived in St. Croix from Illinois in December of 2019 and was employed by a subcontractor of Limetree Bay. He was a resident of the Limetree Bay housing facility.
This case is the first federal case filed in the Virgin Islands involving fentanyl. In an effort to avoid an adverse impact of the deadly street drug on the Virgin Islands community, the U.S. Attorney’s office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who possess or sell it. Anyone with information that may assist investigators regarding fentanyl or other illegal drugs is encouraged to contact the DEA tip line at www.dea.gov/submit-tip.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso G. Andrews, Jr.
Brazilian National Sentenced for Illegally Re-entering the United StatesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Cairo Gaspar Ferreira, 33, was sentenced today on his conviction of illegally reentering the United States after having been previously deported, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced Ferreira to six months incarceration, one year supervised release, and ordered him to pay $100 as a special assessment.
According to court documents, on June 7, 2019 Ferreira was a passenger on a boat traveling without navigational lights from the Sand Filled Dock in St. Thomas. Customs and Border Protection Marine Unit interdicted the vessel as it neared Savanna Island and discovered Ferreira and four other illegal aliens on board. The illegal aliens along with the boat captain were arrested and charged with immigration offenses. Ferreira was identified as a national of Brazil who was previously removed from the United States in March of 2019.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
St. Thomas Man Charged with Attempting to Smuggle Machine Gun with an Obliterated Serial Number After Returning from TortolaRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI- Javier Enrique Lima was indicted on February 27, 2020 on multiple federal and local charges related to possessing and transporting a firearm with obliterated serial number. He was also charged with departing a customs facility before being authorized.
According to the indictment and other filed documents, on February 3, 2020, defendant presented himself at Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Red Hook ferry terminal after returning from Tortola. A CBP Officer working the x-ray machine noticed a firearm in the backpack Lima brought with him. Lima immediately fled the facility, leaving his backpack. Law enforcement agents made multiple efforts to locate Lima, and were unable to do so. Lima eventually turned himself in to law enforcement on March 9, 2020.
Following a detention hearing this morning before the Honorable Ruth Miller, Lima was released to the custody of his parents for home confinement pending trial on the charges.
Lima faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years in prison.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that an indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donna Rainwater.
Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting an Illegal Alien in His Vehicle to the St. John Ferry TerminalRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that Courtney Matthias pleaded guilty to transporting an illegal alien. Matthias will be sentenced at a later date.
According to court documents filed in the case, on October 1, 2019, Matthias transported an illegal alien in his vehicle to the ferry terminal in St. John. In addition, Matthias purchased a ferry ticket for the alien and traveled to St. Thomas with the alien.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Sleeper.
St. Thomas Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Alvin Henry, age 41, of St. Thomas, was sentenced in the St. Croix District Court after a jury trial conviction on one count of Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance With Intent to Distribute and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance With Intent to Distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. The jury trial concluded on March 5, 2019.
Chief Judge Wilma A. Lewis sentenced Henry to a federal prison term of 48 months, followed by 3 years of supervised release, 200 hours of community service, a $2,500 fine, and a $200 total special assessment.
According to trial testimony, on November 2, 2016, a Customs and Border Protection K-9 officer entered the pre-departure area at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix to randomly inspect departing passengers. When the K-9 officer approached, Henry nervously stood up and took his bag off the floor. When they noticed this suspicious behavior, CBP officers asked if they could look into his bags. Henry consented and officers located 10 duct-taped bricks of cocaine powder in Henry’s bags. Further investigation revealed that Henry was part of a scheme to transport cocaine from St. Croix to Florida, and had met with an airport employee in the bathroom of the departure area. The airport employee delivered the cocaine bricks to Henry in the bathroom. Henry had planned to board the American Airlines flight to Miami with the cocaine in his carry-on luggage. Laboratory analysis confirmed the substance was cocaine hydrochloride (cocaine powder) with a net weight of 5,132.4 grams, or over 5 kilograms.
The case was investigated by Customs and Boarder Protection and Homeland Security Investigations. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Southeast Laboratory in Miami analyzed the cocaine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston prosecuted the case.