District of the Virgin Islands
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former Virgin Islands National Guard Member Convicted in Federal Court of 50 Counts Related to Fraud, Theft of Government Money, and a False StatementRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Aesha Rivers, age 43, of St. Croix, was found guilty yesterday, following a federal jury trial in the St. Croix District Court of 48 counts of Wire Fraud; 1 count of Theft of Government Money; and 1 count of False Statement to Government, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. The jury acquitted Rivers on an additional 27 counts of Wire Fraud. Trial commenced on April 30, 2019 and concluded on May 2, 2019.
According to trial testimony, Rivers was a Virgin Islands National Guard member who applied for and received Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) proceeds between June 1, 2011, and June 30, 2015, for a residence she purchased on St. Croix, for which she held a mortgage through Flagstar Bank.
The OHA program is a reimbursement-based program intended to help defray the higher cost of housing for National Guard members located in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam. In order to receive OHA proceeds, the National Guard member must submit and certify an application as well as provide documentation to support either an existing rental agreement or HUD-1 to validate an existing mortgage. Annual recertification is also required.
Rivers stopped making her mortgage payments to Flagstar by March 1, 2012, and a foreclosure motion for default judgment was granted to Flagstar on March 18, 2014. Rivers failed to notify the Virgin Islands National Guard of her changed circumstances as to her housing expenses, as required by law. She falsely recertified her OHA eligibility annually. As a result, Rivers fraudulently received OHA proceeds through the electronic transfer of funds into her USAA checking account until June 30, 2015. Evidence presented at trial showed that Rivers fraudulently received $71,345.93 from the OHA program.
The Wire Fraud offenses for which Rivers was convicted carry a possible term of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. The Theft of Government Money offense carries a term of imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000. The False Statement to Government offense carries a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is set before Visiting Judge Anne E. Thompson on September 20, 2019.
The U.S. Army CID – Major Procurement Fraud Unit and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston prosecuted the case.
St. Croix Men Sentenced to Prison for Their Participation in a Scheme to Distribute Cocaine Base (“Crack”) and CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Nolly King, 36 of St. Croix, was sentenced Thursday for distribution of crack cocaine, and Thaddeus Hendricks, 39, was sentenced for distribution of cocaine, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. According to court documents, both men were associates of Robert Klyvert who is pending sentencing in federal court.
Visiting Judge Anne E. Thompson sentenced King to 24months and two years of supervised release. Judge Thompson also ordered him to pay a fine of $500 and a $100 special assessment. Hendricks was sentenced to 12 months and one day and two years of supervised release. Judge Thompson also ordered him to pay a fine of $500 and a $100 special assessment.
On January 29, 2019, King pleaded guilty to distribution of crack cocaine. According to the plea agreement filed in court, on December 31, 2016, a CS made arrangements with King to pick up crack cocaine in Orlando, Florida that King was holding for Robert Klyvert aka "Family." Klyvert was subsequently charged, has entered a guilty plea, and is pending sentencing in federal court. At approximately 9:45 a.m., the CS called King and informed King that the CS was ready. King instructed the CS to wait 20 to 25 minutes. At approximately 10:00 a.m., King called the CS and told him to come to his house. When the CS pulled up, King exited the residence, greeted the CS and engaged in conversation. After a few minutes, King re-entered the house and came back holding a white plastic bag containing crack cocaine. The CS asked King what was wrong with the crack cocaine. King stated that people did not like the color and showed the CS a sample. The CS took the crack cocaine and left the scene. Subsequent lab tests confirmed that the substance that the CS obtained from King was indeed crack cocaine and cocaine powder, and the net weight was 884.18 grams.
On January 29, 2019, Hendricks pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine. According to the plea agreement filed in federal court, on January 15, 2017, Hendricks travelled by plane from St. Croix to St. Thomas, carrying a black backpack, which contained cocaine intended for Robert Klyvert, aka "Family". Hendricks asked the CS to take him to the Palms Court Hotel so that Hendricks could get a room while he waited for his flight back to St. Croix. While at the hotel, the CS gave Hendricks $22,000 and told him it was for the cocaine Hendricks had picked up in Orlando. Hendricks removed the cocaine from of the backpack and placed it on the floor of the front passenger seat where he was sitting. The CS inspected the cocaine and the Hendricks entered the hotel. Later that day, Hendricks arrived at the Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix and got into a car driven by Robert Klyvert. Subsequent lab tests confirmed that the backpack Hendricks showed to the CS contained cocaine with a net weight of 971.8 grams.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rhonda Williams-Henry and Melissa Ortiz.
Mexican National Apprehended at the Rohlsen Airport, St. Croix Sentenced for Reentry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Manuel Alberto Fuentes-Acosta, 46, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced Thursday for reentry of removed alien, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
Visiting Judge Anne E. Thompson sentenced Fuentes-Acosta to time served and a $100 special assessment. Defendant had been detained from November 2018.
Fuentes-Acosta pled guilty February 4, 2019. According to the plea agreement filed in court on November 9, 2018, while seeking to board the American Airline flight, the defendant presented himself to CBP primary inspection at the Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix. The defendant advised the primary officer that he was illegally in the United States. He was referred to secondary inspection where he repeated to the secondary officer that he was in the United States illegally and did not have a visa. The defendant was arrested and told Homeland Security agents that he entered the United States in 1996 illegally and was deported in 2017 from Laredo, TX. The defendant stated that he remained in Mexico and subsequently returned to the United States without inspection. He further stated he paid a smuggler $2,000 to $3,000 to transport him into the United States by crossing the river from Mexico to Del Rio, TX in April 2018.
The investigation revealed the defendant was deported on June 1, 2017 from Laredo, TX to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and that he did not obtain consent from the Attorney General to re-enter the United States.
St. Thomas Man Found Guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Le’Quan Registe, 25, of St. Thomas, was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute marijuana after a jury trial in District Court, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. The jury trial lasted one day, commencing on April 29, 2019, with jury deliberations commencing and concluding on April 30, 2019. Registe was acquitted of an additional charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of marijuana distribution.
According to trial testimony, on May 18, 2018, during a search of Registe’s vehicle, Virgin Islands Police Department officers located quantities of marijuana on the gear shift, on top of and underneath the front passenger seat, as well as in a backpack located on the backseat. Officers also located in the car $3,400 in a hidden compartment of the steering wheel, a police scanner, baggies, a digital scale, and a firearm.
After trial, Registe was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service. Sentencing is set for August 29, 2019.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Virgin Islands Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith J. Edwards and George Andrew Massucco-LaTaif.
St. Thomas Man Arrested for Firearm and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Aubrey Frett, 30, of St. Thomas was arrested today on an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert, announced. Frett made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller and was detained pending further proceedings on May 9, 2019.
According to the indictment, on September 3, 2018, Frett was in possession of marijuana, crack cocaine and a firearm with an obliterated serial number when officers from the Virgin Islands Police department detained him on an unrelated matter.
If convicted of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, Frett faces a term of imprisonment of not more than five years and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute, a term of not more than twenty years and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, a term of not more than five years in prison. On the possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, Frett faces a consecutive five year term of imprisonment.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Virgin Islands Police Department investigated this matter and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard Potter.
Defendant Apprehended with Firearms, Live Rounds of Ammunition, and Loaded Magazines Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm While Under IndictmentRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Amead Williams, 24, pleaded guilty on April 25, 2019 in federal court to possession of a firearm while under indictment.
According to court documents, on September 11, 2018, Virgin Islands police and other law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence in Frederiksted. During the search, police uncovered a .223 Kel Tec pistol with two attached loaded magazines, each containing 30 live rounds, and a 9mm firearm loaded with 13 rounds. A firearm forensic analysis revealed that both firearms were operable. Amead Williams admitted to law enforcement officers that the firearms belonged to him. At the time of the search, Williams was subject to criminal charges pending in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands,
Williams faces up to five years of incarceration for the offense and a fine of up to $250,000.00. A sentencing date has been scheduled for August 28, 2019.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso Andrews, Jr.
St. Croix Man Arrested on Firearm and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Deshawn Gonsalves, 24, of St. Croix, appeared before Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon for an Initial Appearance after his arrest by Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents on the charges of Possession of a Firearm within a School Zone, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. Further, upon motion of the Government, Magistrate Judge Cannon scheduled a Detention Hearing for April 26, 2019.
According to court documents, on October 31, 2018, after responding to a domestic disturbance 911 call, officers with the Virgin Islands Police Department searched Gonsalves’ vehicle and located:
- A loaded Glock .45 caliber handgun;
- A Glock magazine holding 10 rounds;
- A Glock extended magazine capable of holding 30 rounds;
- 135 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition;
- A ballistic vest;
- A black ski mask; and
- 170 grams of marijuana.
This occurred within 1,000 feet of the Eulalie Rivera Elementary School.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston.
United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert reminds the public that an arrest warrant is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
St. Thomas Man Indicted for Sexual Offenses against a MinorRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – A federal Grand Jury today returned a ten count indictment against John Jackson, 30, of St. Thomas, charging him with two counts of production of child pornography, three counts of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, one count of rape first degree, and three counts of aggravated rape second degree, United States Attorney Gretchen Shappert announced.
The indictment stems from Jackson allegedly engaging in sexual activity and then producing images of his sexual encounter with a fifteen year old female minor. Under federal law, Jackson faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
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.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Carjacking OffensesRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Joel G. Rivera, 33, of St. Croix, pled guilty on April 18, 2019, in District Court to one count of Using a Firearm during a Violent Crime, and one count of Carjacking, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
The firearm offense carries a mandatory minimum of 7 years imprisonment, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release up to 5 years. The carjacking offense carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release up to 5 years. Sentencing is set for August 21, 2019.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of September 10, 2017, the defendant, along with two co-defendants, broke into the home of Stephen O’Dea and Kathryn Duncan, while brandishing a firearm. The defendants physically assaulted Mr. O’Dea and threatened to kill the couple while demanding money. The defendants forced the couple at gunpoint into the rear seat of Mr. O’Dea’s Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck and drove to the location where Mr. O’Dea had left his wallet. After obtaining the wallet, the defendants fled in the pick-up truck and Mr. O’Dea’s Jeep Wrangler that was located at his residence. In addition to the vehicles, defendants stole $200 in currency, two iPhones valued at $600 each, and an iPad valued at $200.
The Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston.
St. Croix Man Charged with Possession of a .380 Pistol Near St. Patrick’s Elementary SchoolRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Samuel Melendez, 43, of St. Croix, appeared before Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon for an Initial Appearance after his arrest by Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents on the charge of Possession of a Firearm within a School Zone.
According to court documents, on October 8, 2018, Melendez was brandishing a firearm and cursing at customers in the H & R Supermarket in Frederiksted. Melendez was later found to be in possession of a loaded .380 caliber Jimenez Arms pistol. This occurred within 1,000 feet of the St. Patrick’s Elementary School.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston.
United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert reminds the public that an arrest warrant is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
St. Croix Man Arrested on Firearm and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Rahem “Kimby” Hendrickson, of St. Croix, appeared before Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon for an Initial Appearance on April 17, 2019, after his arrest by Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents on the charges of Possession of a Firearm within a School Zone, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking.
According to court documents, on February 16, 2018, a search warrant was obtained for Hendrickson’s vehicle that was located at the Dynasty Grocery Store, aka Paul’s, in Sion Farm. The search subsequently revealed a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol with various additional ammunition, over a kilogram of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and $2,584 in cash.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston.
United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert reminds the public that an arrest warrant is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Attorney’s Office Announce DEA’s 17th National Prescription Take–Back Day with Events on St. Croix and St. Thomas for Saturday, April 27thRead the Press Release
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge, A.J. Collazo and U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced an upcoming prescription take-back event, scheduled for April 27th on St. Croix and St. Thomas. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses a serious public safety and public health issue which impacts communities throughout the United States. Now in its ninth year, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events continue to remove ever-higher amounts of opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they could be stolen and abused by family members and visitors, including children and teens. The DEA’s Take-Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. Take-Back Day also provides for an effective way to dispose of prescription drugs without harm to the environment.
According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.2 million Americans have misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. The DEA’s Take-Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. Take-Back Day also provides for an effective way to dispose of prescription drugs without harm to the environment.
Helping people to dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one way DEA is working to reduce the addiction and overdose deaths plaguing this country due to opioid medications. “We are proud to join efforts with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day”, said SAC Collazo. “We are certain that this 17th edition of the National Take Back Day will be a success in the Virgin Islands, as was the previous event on October 27, 2018.” The October 2018 DEA Take-Back Day in the USVI collected a record amount of prescription drugs and DEA is hoping for similar results with the April 27th Take-Back Day.
“Studies show that unused and left-over prescription drugs are oftentimes misused and abused by children and other family members”, said U.S. Attorney Shappert. “Removing these items from the home takes away the possibility of accidental use and possible abuse. The DEA Take-Back Program also ensures that prescription drugs are disposed of responsibly, and that they do not harm the environment.”
Persons wishing to dispose of unused prescription drugs on St. Croix can take those prescriptions to the Gallows Bay, Kingshill, and Frederiksted Post Offices between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 27th. For disposal of unused prescriptions on St. Thomas, persons may take them to the Frenchtown and Sugar Estates Post Offices, also on Saturday, April 27th, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
For more information on National Take-Back Day, please contact 1-800-882-9539, 571-362-4700 or visit https://takebackday.dea.gov/ or https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.
Federal Authorities Arrest Two St. Thomas Men in possession of Marijuana, Cash and FirearmsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Thomas A. Olive, II, and his brother, Thorne A. Olive appeared today before U.S. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez, for a preliminary detention hearing after their arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigations for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Offenses.
According to court records, on December 11, 2018, the two brothers were observed by law enforcement driving in a grey Toyota Camry with excessively tinted windows, a violation of Virgin Islands traffic laws. Subsequent to the traffic stop, VIPD officers recovered in excess of 4 pounds of marijuana; a Glock, model 17, 9mm firearm; a Glock, model 23, .40 caliber firearm, with an extended magazine; several digital scales; boxes of plastic baggies; and approximately $6,225.00 in U.S. Currency.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte.
United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert reminds the public that an arrest warrant is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
St. Croix Man Found Guilty of Possession Cocaine Base (“Crack”) and Assaulting Virgin Islands Police OfficerRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Jimmy Davis, 41, of St. Croix, has been found guilty after a jury trial in the St. Croix District Court of one count of Possession of Cocaine and one count of Aggravated Assault and Battery, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. The jury trial lasted a total of five days, commencing on April 8, 2019, and concluding on April 12, 2019. An additional charge was dismissed.
According to trial testimony, on February 26, 2018, Virgin Islands Police Department officers arrested Jimmy Davis, on an outstanding Superior Court warrant. At the time of his arrest, officers located of 9.61 grams of crack cocaine in the Davis’s front right pants pocket. The DEA Southeast Laboratory in Miami, Florida subsequently analyzed the crack cocaine and confirmed it to be cocaine base, a Schedule II controlled substance.
While Davis was being processed and booked at the police department following his February of 2018 arrest on the drug charges, he became belligerent and violent. According to trial testimony, Davis verbally threatened and then intentionally kicked Officer Travis Herbert in the right thigh area.
The possession offense carries a term of imprisonment of up to 1 year and a fine of up to $1,000. The aggravated assault and battery offense also carries a term of imprisonment of up to 1 year and a fine of up to $500. Sentencing is scheduled for August 14, 2019.
The Virgin Islands Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel H. Huston and Alphonso G. Andrews prosecuted the case.
St. Thomas Resident Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI –Jeffrey Cole, 57, of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty in District Court before Judge Curtis V. Gomez, to failing to register as a sex offender, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to court records, Cole was convicted for voyeurism in the State of Ohio in 2009. He moved to the State of Georgia where he registered as a sex offender. Cole relocated to the Virgin Islands in 2018, and failed to register as required by law.
Under federal law, Cole faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshal Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
St. Thomas Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of an A-15 Rifle with an Obliterated Serial NumberRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Arthur Greaves, Jr., 19, of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty in District Court before Judge Curtis Gomez, to possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to court documents, on May 17, 2018, Greaves pointed an A-15 rifle at an individual as the individual and his four year-old son attempted to enter a residence on Garden Street. Greaves grabbed a gold chain from the individual’s neck and ran to a building on Bunker Hill where responding officers discovered him hiding under a stairwell. Greaves directed the officers to an adjacent abandoned building to reveal the rifle, a .22 cal. DPMS model A-15 with its serial number removed along with a double stack magazine and cartridges.
Greaves faces a minimum sentence of 10 years incarceration, a period of supervised release of not more than three years, and a maximum fine of $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for August 15, 2019.
This case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Roosevelt Dowling, 58, of St. Croix, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base ("crack") before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon, Jr., United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on or about January 30, 2017, while executing a search warrant on Dowling’s residence, law enforcement officials seized approximately 31 grams of crack, 759.5 grams of cocaine hydrochloride, 19 marijuana plants, two digital scales, and $6,690 in cash.
Dowling faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a four-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $8,000,000.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Virgin Islands Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith J. Edwards.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Marijuana at Federal Courthouse Facility on St. CroixRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – On Thursday, March 28, 2019, Dion Alfred-Carlton Williams, 20, of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon, Jr., to possession of marijuana, United States Gretchen Shappert announced. Sentencing is scheduled for July 31, 2019.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, On March 10, 2017, the defendant and his co-defendant attempted to enter the secure parking lot at the District Court to drop off paperwork. The defendant was the passenger in the car that his co-defendant drove to the court. The security officer denied them entrance and instructed the co-defendant driver to park in the visitor lot. The driver refused and caused a disturbance, causing a special agent to approach his car. The agent smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car. A search of the car yielded two Ziploc bags containing 10 vials of marijuana. The co-defendant stated the marijuana was for sale. The defendant stated that he was an unemployed drug user and claimed that the marijuana was his. He also stated that he had just bought the marijuana for $100. The defendant was also searched and a dime bag of marijuana was found on him.
Williams faces a term of imprisonment of not more than one year and a $1,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.
St. Croix Man Arrested for Conspiracy and Possession with the intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Jakwan Sweeney, 21, of St. Croix arrested yesterday on an indictment charging him with conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert, announced. Sweeney made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller and was detained pending further proceedings on March 29, 2019.
According to the indictment, between August 1st and September 24, 2018, Sweeney conspired to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
If convicted of conspiracy or possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, Sweeney faces a term of imprisonment of not less than ten years and not more than life and a fine of $10,000,000.00.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated this matter and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
St. Croix Man Convicted at Trial, Who Later Absconded to Puerto Rico, Pleads Guilty to Escape from CustodyRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – On Tuesday, March 19, 2019, Nathaniel Thomas, Jr., 29, of St. Croix, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon, Jr., to escape from custody, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. Sentencing is scheduled for July 18, 2019.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court on March 13, 2018, the defendant was convicted of federal and local charges, including felon in possession of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment in the first degree in the District Court of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix Division. Upon his conviction, the District Court Judge remanded the defendant into custody pending sentencing. The Marshal Service transported the defendant to the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility, where federal prisoners are detained pursuant to an agreement with the Attorney General of the United States. On March 15, 2018, the defendant escaped from Golden Grove. He was located by law enforcement agents in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico on April 7, 2018 and was taken into custody.
Thomas faces a term of imprisonment of not more than five years and a fine of not more than $250,000 on his current charges. He is currently serving a twenty-three year federal sentence for his previous federal convictions.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshal Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.
St. Croix Man Sentenced for His Role in Attempting to Smuggle Marijuana through the Henry E. Rohlsen AirportRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Gibbs Bully, 52, of St. Croix, was sentenced on March 14, 2019, in District Count on one count of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
Chief Judge Wilma A. Lewis sentenced Bully to a prison sentence of 18 months, followed by four years of supervised release, and imposed a fine of $4,000 and a $100 special assessment. Bully was ordered to surrender to the U.S. Marshals on April 15, 2019 to serve his sentence.
Bully previously pled guilty to the charge on January 10, 2018. According to court documents, his codefendant traveled on an American Airlines flight from Miami, Florida, to St. Croix via the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport. Mr. Bully solicited, aided and abetted his codefendant in checking one box onto the flight containing five separate vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana, weighing approximately 4.5 kilograms. Once the codefendant arrived in St. Croix, Bully retrieved the box containing the marijuana from the baggage carousel. He was immediately detained by Customs and Border Protection officers.
The case was investigated Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security, and the marijuana was analyzed by the DEA Southeast Crime Laboratory in Miami. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Huston.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Manufacturing MarijuanaRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Jaheem Benjamin, 31, of St. Croix, pled guilty on March 13, 2019, in District Court to one federal count of Manufacture of Marijuana, and one local count of Illegal Use of Utility Equipment, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
This federal offense carries a potential mandatory minimum sentence of not less than five years and up to forty years imprisonment, a maximum fine of up to $5,000,000 dollars, and a term of supervised release of at least 2 years. The local Territorial offense carries a potential fine of not less than $500 nor more than $3,000 or a prison sentence of up to 1 year. Sentencing is set for July 12, 2019.
According to court documents, on February 14, 2017, Mr. Benjamin was growing one-hundred-and-thirty-seven (137) marijuana plants in his garage located on St. Croix. The defendant growing and harvesting the marijuana plants for purposes of sale. At the time of his arrest, Mr. Benjamin admitted that he was selling marijuana for about $2,500 a pound, in order to make a living.
Mr. Benjamin use electrical equipment set up inside his garage to support and facilitate his marijuana grow operation. He operated electrical equipment, using electricity passing through a meter belonging to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority ("WAPA") that had been tampered with and altered. As a result he was able to avoid payment to WAPA for the electricity to run the marijuana grow operation.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Task Force Officers with the Virgin Islands Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston.
Remaining Two of Three Dominican Republic Nationals Charged with Trafficking over 1,000 Kilograms of Cocaine Enter Guilty Pleas in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Edwin Vargas, 31, and Lennin Cornelio-Perez, 32, both of the Dominican Republic, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance on Board a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States in District Court before Judge Curtis Gomez, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to court documents, a United States Coast Guard (USCG) aircraft detected a go-fast style vessel with no indicia of nationality located about 65 nautical miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico. After being detected, the go-fast vessel led authorities on a ten-hour chase in international waters between Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. USCG personnel were able to board the vessel when it finally went dead in the water approximately 96 nautical miles north of St. Thomas. Upon boarding the vessel, authorities discovered Vargas, Cornelio-Perez, and co-defendant Perez-Brito, along with 52 bales containing a total of approximately 1,132 kilograms of a white powdery substance that field tested positive for cocaine.
In pleading guilty, Vargas and Cornelio-Perez both admitted to having conspired to transport the cocaine by boat from Venezuela to Puerto Rico, with Vargas admitting to having been the boat’s captain and Cornelio-Perez admitting to having served as the boat’s mechanic.
Vargas and Cornelio-Perez face mandatory minimum sentences of ten years’ imprisonment, five-year term of supervised release, and a fines of up to $10,000,000, respectively.
This case is being investigated by the USCG, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith J. Edwards.
Previously Deported Dominican Republic National Apprehended in St. John Sentenced to 18 months for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI - United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Jose Alfredo Rondon Castro, 40, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for illegal reentry in District Court before District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez. Judge Gomez also sentenced Castro to three years of supervised release. Judge Gomez further ordered Castro to pay a special assessment of $100.00.
Castro pled guilty to illegal reentry on November 13, 2018. According, to the plea agreement filed with the court, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) apprehended a vessel in the area of North Haulover Bay, St. John after agents observed that the vessel was operating with no lights. After the vessel was stopped, AMO agents observed five male individuals on board. Castro was one of the four male individuals determined not to be U.S. citizens and that he was previously deported in February 2018. Castro did not have permission from the Department of Homeland Security to re-enter.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Unit and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
President of Florida Construction Company Sentenced to 22 Months in Federal Prison for Making False Statements to Federal Government to Defraud USVI ContractorRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Adrian L. Foster, 50, of Florida, was sentenced today as a result of her conviction for making a false statement to a federal agency, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced Foster to 22 Months incarceration, 3 years supervised release, $100 Special Assessment, and $133,002 in Restitution payable to the U.S. Virgin Islands construction company.
According to court documents, Foster was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Foster Construction of South Florida, Inc., located in Miami, FL. In 2013, Foster entered into contracts to facilitate the completion of two projects in the Virgin Islands National Park in Cruz Bay, St. John, VI. Between 2013 and 2016, Foster falsified multiple certifications to the National Park Service (NPS) and misappropriated federal funds from NPS that were designated to a U.S. Virgin Islands construction company.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of the Interior - Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mervin A. Bourne, Jr.
St. Thomas Man Sentenced to 150 Months in Federal Prison for Transporting a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Osvaldo Tavarez, 48, of St. Thomas, was sentenced today as a result of his conviction for transporting a minor for illegal sexual activity, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced Tavarez to 150 months incarceration, a life time of supervised release, and a $100 Special Assessment. As part of his sentence, Tavarez also is required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, on or around January 30, 2018, Tavarez transported a 13-year old minor child who resided in his household, from the Bovoni area to Mariendahl, where he engaged in sexual intercourse with the minor, which would constitute first-degree aggravated rape under Virgin Islands law.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
St. Croix Man Sentenced to 30 years for Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence and Attempted Murder Following Shooting Incident at Frederiksted Waste SiteRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Daniel Carino, age 37, of St. Croix, was sentenced to ten years of incarceration for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and to a consecutive sentence of twenty years for attempted murder, by District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis on March 13, 2019. Judge Lewis also ordered Carino to pay restitution in the amount of $51,786.00 for the victim’s medical expenses, to supervised release for five years and to pay a special assessment of $100.00. She did not impose a fine.
On November 15, 2016, a jury convicted Carino of the charges listed above. Evidence presented at trial established that on December 19, 2015, Carino approached the victim at the Concordia garbage bin site in Frederiksted, St. Croix. An argument ensued during which Carino drew a firearm and shot the victim in the chest and leg. After he was shot, the victim wrestled the firearm away from Carino who ran to his vehicle and drove away. With the aid of his minor son, the victim drove his truck to Queen Mary Highway where he obtained assistance. Later that evening, the victim selected Carino from a photo array while at the hospital emergency room. Police apprehended Carino at a festival event that night.
The case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso Andrews, Jr.
St. Thomas Resident Pleads Guilty to Calling in Bomb ThreatsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Rudy Cook, 51, of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty in District Court before Judge Curtis V. Gomez, to two counts of calling in bomb threats, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to court documents, on or around September 18, 2018, Cook called in a bomb threat to the Ritz Carlton Hotel on St. Thomas stating that three bombs planted at the hotel would explode at noon. On that same day Cook made a 911 call stating that there were bombs located at the Ritz Carlton that would explode and kill a lot of people.
Cook faces a maximum sentence of 10 year incarceration and a maximum period of supervised release of 3 years. In addition, Cook faces a maximum fine of $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11, 2019.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
St. Thomas Man Charged with Bank BurglaryRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Clement Bougouneau, 51, of St. Thomas, made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller today, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. Bougouneau is charged with having committed bank burglary and larceny from Banco Popular de Puerto Rico on September 4, 2017. According to court documents, he allegedly entered the bank and stole in excess of $ 1,000 in property and money.
If convicted, Bougouneau faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith J. Edwards.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that an Information is merely a formal charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to False Claim to United States CitizenshipRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Edgar Ramirez aka Rodolfo O. Salinas, 36, pleaded guilty today to false claim of United States citizenship.
According to a plea agreement filed with the court, on December 20, 2018, Ramirez presented himself for inspection to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, while attempting to board Delta Airlines flight #307 to Atlanta, Ga. During primary inspection, Ramirez presented a Pennsylvania identification card bearing the name Rodolfo Salinas to the CBP Officer. During questioning, Ramirez also stated that he was a citizen of the United States. Ramirez was referred to secondary inspection where he also stated that he was a U.S. citizen who was born in Texas. After waiving his Miranda rights, Ramirez stated that he was born in Mexico with dual citizenship in Mexico and Guatemala. Ramirez stated that in 2001, he paid $2,000 to cross the border into the United States and has been living in the United States ever since. Ramirez admitted that he told the CBP Officers that he was a U.S. citizen.
Ramirez faces a three-year period of incarceration and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is set for June 11, 2019.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim L. Chisholm.
Four Guyanese Men Sentenced for Possession of Cocaine on Board a Vessel Following Seizure of 3,769 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI –United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Neville Jeffrey, 70, Mohamed Hoseain, 66, Richard La Cruz, 51, and Mark Anthony Williams, 32, all of Guyana, were sentenced to 48 months, 36 months, 30 months and 27 months respectively for possession of cocaine on board a vessel, by District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis on March 5, 2019. Judge Lewis also sentenced each defendant to two years of supervised release, but ordered that they be deported upon release from incarceration. She further ordered them to pay a special assessment of $100.00 each and did not impose a fine.
Jeffrey, Hoseain, La Cruz and Williams pleaded guilty to cocaine possession charges in November and December of 2018. According to plea agreements filed with the court and statements at the sentencing hearing, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Napier, on February 16, 2017, intercepted a suspicious vessel in a joint operation with the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard approximately seventy nautical miles north of Paramaribo, Suriname, in international waters. The vessel, later identified as the LADY MICHELLE, was located in a known drug trafficking route and registered with St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The U.S. Coast Guard boarded the vessel pursuant to a bilateral agreement between the United States and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They discovered 185 bales containing numerous rectangular shaped packages of cocaine in the vessel’s fish hold weighing 3,769 kilograms. The drugs had a street value in the U.S. Virgin Islands of approximately 71 million dollars. Jeffrey and Hoseain functioned as captains. La Cruz was identified as the engineer and Williams as the cook.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso Andrews, Jr.
Dominican Republic National Charged with Trafficking over 1,000 Kilograms of Cocaine Enters Guilty Plea in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Dany Perez-Brito, 44, of the Dominican Republic, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance on Board a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States in District Court before Judge Curtis Gomez, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to court documents, a United States Coast Guard (USCG) aircraft detected a go-fast style vessel with no indicia of nationality located about 65 nautical miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico. After being detected, the go-fast vessel led authorities on a ten-hour chase in international waters between Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. USCG personnel were able to board the vessel when it finally went dead in the water approximately 96 nautical miles north of St. Thomas. Upon boarding the vessel, authorities discovered 52 bales containing a total of approximately 1,132 kilograms of a white powdery substance that field tested positive for cocaine. In court, Perez-Brito admitted to having conspired to transport the cocaine by boat from Venezuela to Puerto Rico, for which he expected to be paid $200,000.
Perez-Brito faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, a five-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000,000.
This case was being investigated by the USCG, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith J. Edwards.
St. Thomas Man Found Guilty on Drug Charges Involving 5 Kilograms of Powder CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Alvin Henry, 40, of St. Thomas, has been found guilty, after a jury trial, of 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 in the St. Croix District Court, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. The jury trial lasted a total of seven days, starting on February 25, 2019, and concluding on March 5, 2019.
These federal offenses carry a minimum term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years or more than life, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five years. Sentencing will be set for a future date.
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, Defendant Henry ("Henry") nervously stood up and lifted his bag off the floor. When the CBP officers noticed this suspicious behavior, they asked if they could look into his bags. Henry consented and 10 duct-taped bricks of cocaine powder were confiscated from the bag. 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, who delivered the cocaine bricks to Henry in the bathroom. Henry was scheduled 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.
St. Thomas Resident Indicted for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – On February 21, 2019, a federal Grand Jury returned an indictment against Jeffrey Cole, 57, of St. Thomas, charging him with failing to register as a sex offender, United States Attorney Gretchen Shappert announced. Cole appeared in court today before Federal Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller where he entered a plea of not guilty. Cole’s trial date is scheduled for April 15, 2019.
According to the indictment and court records, Cole was convicted for voyeurism in the State of Ohio in 2009. He moved to the State of Georgia where he registered as a sex offender. Cole relocated to the Virgin Islands in 2018, and failed to register.
Under federal law, Cole faces a maximum sentence of 10 years 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 United States Marshal Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Owner of Construction Company and Three Others Charged with Disaster Fraud and Identity Theft in the United States Virgin IslandsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI –United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that charges have been unsealed against Juli Campbell and three others for fraud related to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) Program.
The STEP Program provides federal funds for essential repairs to homes damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. According to the Indictment returned by the Grand Jury in the case, Campbell operated Campbell Development, LLC, which was a subcontractor performing STEP-funded work in St. Croix, VI. Campbell and her co-defendants are alleged to have executed a scheme whereby they submitted fraudulent invoices related to a STEP-funded subcontract, even including on such invoices the names of workers who were not actually on the island.
"The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that federal dollars are used for their intended purposes," said U.S. Attorney Shappert. "The United States Attorney’s Office for the Virgin Islands is especially committed to making certain that federal funds intended for the victims of natural disasters are accounted for and used consistent with FEMA’s directives."
"The DHS OIG takes any and all allegations of fraudulent activity seriously and intends to hold accountable those who try to use natural disasters such as Hurricane Maria to take advantage of others," said Special Agent in Charge Jay H. Donly of the DHS OIG Miami Field Office. "The DHS OIG will continue to use its investigative resources to stop those who use these circumstances for personal and illegal gain."
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Office of the Inspector General as well as Homeland Security Investigations, with support from Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nathan Brooks.
St. Croix Man Who Tried to Solicit a Child Online Sentenced for Attempted Coercion and Enticement for Illegal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Josue Navarro, 37 of St. Croix, was sentenced Friday for attempted coercion and enticement for illegal sexual activity, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
Chief District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis sentenced Navarro to 30 months and three years of supervised release. Judge Lewis also ordered him to pay a fine of $1,000 and a $100 special assessment.
On August 30, 2018, Navarro pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement for illegal sexual activity. According to the plea agreement filed in court, on or about June 23, 2017 to June 25, 2017, law enforcement officers operating in an undercover capacity, created and posted ads online. The post was captioned “home 4 the summer, looking fun in the sun NSA.” The ad was posted by a law enforcement officer posing as a 14-year-old female named “Niema.”
On June 24, 2017 at 8:43 p.m., “Niema” asked the defendant if he brought something “cause I don’t wanna get pregnant, my mother will kill me,” to which the defendant responded “yes.” At 9:03 p.m. “Niema” told the defendant she was 14. At 9:18 p.m., the defendant said “[L]emme come get you n we go get whatever it is u want.”
At 11:02 the defendant texted the following to “Niema” and in highly graphic language, offered suggestions as to methods and means for sexual penetration which defendant offered to provide to “Niema”.
On June 25, 2017, at 1:19 p.m., the defendant texted “Niema,” asking “to engage in other sex acts involving carnal knowledge.
At 4:35 p.m., the defendant told “Niema” “[L]et me come pick you up.” The defendant was to meet with “Niema at an arranged location in St. Croix and was taken into custody by law enforcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.
Federal Authorities Arrested St. Thomas Boxer for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – John Jackson, 30, appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for a preliminary and detention hearing after his arrest on Saturday by Homeland Security Investigations for Production of Child Pornography, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. At this time Jackson remains in custody pending trial.
According to court records, Jackson allegedly transported a fifteen year old minor from a local high school to his residence. There he sexually assaulted the minor female and used the minor’s cellular phone to create a video of himself engaged in the sexual assault upon the minor.
Information provided in the courtroom indicated that Jackson is the son of prominent Virgin Islander and three times world boxing champion Julien “the Hawk” Jackson. He is also a profession boxer in his own right, having represented the Virgin Islands as both an amateur and professional fighter internationally on the mainland United States.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that an arrest warrant is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Suspected child exploitation or missing children cases may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children via its toll-free 24–hour hotline at 202-514-5678, or to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at (787) 729-6969.
Hatian National Pleads Guilty to being an Alien in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Venel Touze, 26, of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty in District Court before Judge Curtis Gomez, to one count of being an alien in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to court documents, On October 31, 2018, Touze was traveling in a vehicle in down town Charlotte Amalie when officers of the Virgin Islands Police Department stopped the vehicle for a traffic infraction. Touze appeared nervous, and officers asked him to exit the vehicle. Touze then admitted to having a firearm on his person. Officers patted down Touze and discovered a .9mm Ruger firearm, Model P94DC. Touze, a Haitian National, was in the United States by virtue of an expired Employment Authorization Card from 2016.
Touze faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ incarceration, a period of supervised release of not more than three years, and a maximum fine of $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for June 27, 2019.
This case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Identification Document with Intent to DefraudRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Zakee Abdur Rasheed, age 47, pleaded guilty on February 19, 2019 to possession of identification document with intent to defraud.
According to a plea agreement filed with the court, in or about 2012 Rasheed arranged to arranged to, and did, obtain a Virgin Islands driver’s license in the name of, and date of birth for, M. H. The license bore the photograph of Rasheed’s wife, Ameena Ali. Rasheed intended that the false driver’s license would be used in an application for a United States passport by Ameena Ali in the name M. H.
Rasheed faces a period of incarceration of up to one year and a fine of up to $100,000.00. No sentencing date has been set as yet.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso Andrews, Jr.
Mexican National Who Was Smuggled into the United States Pleads Guilty to Reentry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – On Monday, February 4, 2019, Manuel Alberto Fuentes-Acosta, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon, Jr., to reentry of removed alien, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.
According to court documents, the defendant, a Mexican citizen, presented himself to Customs and border Protection (CBP) primary inspection at the St. Croix Rohlsen Airport on November 9, 2018, while attempting to board an American Airlines flight. The defendant told the CBP officer that he was illegally in the United States, and he was referred to secondary inspection where he repeated that he was in the United States illegally and did not have the requisite visa. The defendant was arrested. He informed Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents that he entered the United States in 1996 illegally and was deported in 2017 from Laredo, TX. The defendant also stated that he had remained in Mexico and later returned to the United States without inspection. He also told HSI agents that he paid a smuggler $2,000 to $3,000 to return to the United States by crossing the river from Mexico to Del Rio, TX in April 2018.
The investigation revealed the defendant was deported on June 1, 2017 from Laredo, TX to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico via foot and the defendant did not obtain consent from the Attorney General to re-enter the United States.
Fuentes-Acosta faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has been set for June 5, 2019.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.
St. John Man Sentenced to Six Months for Smuggling Four Illegal Aliens from Tortola to the U.S. Virgin IslandsRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Brice Todman, 36, of St. John, was sentenced today in District Court before District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez on a charge of bringing illegal aliens into the United States, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced Todman to six months incarceration followed by three years supervised release. Judge Gomez ordered that Todman pay a $100 special assessment, forfeit the $4,000 paid to him by the illegal aliens and the vessel used to bring the illegal aliens into the Virgin Islands.
According, to court documents, on October 21, 2018 at approximately 9:00 p.m., U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) apprehended a Virgin Islands-registered vessel in the area of North Haulover Bay, St. John after agents observed that the vessel was operating with no lights. After AMO agents stopped the vessel, they observed five male individuals on board. Todman was identified as the captain and the other four male individuals were from the Dominican Republic, Argentina and Venezuela and did not have permission to be in the United States. Two of the four illegal aliens admitted to agents that they had paid Todman $ 1,000 to transport them from Tortola, BVI to St. John.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Unit (AMO) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
Virgin Islands U.S. Attorney's Office Staff Receives Prestigious DOJ Award for Post-Hurricanes Leadership and ServiceRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F Shappert announced today that a nine-member administrative team in the Virgin Islands U.S. Attorney’s Office (VI-USAO) has been recognized for their extraordinary service, following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. In September of 2017, the VI-USAO became the only USAO to encounter two Category 5 hurricanes in less than two weeks. Staff members were without power and running water – many for over 100 days. A core team worked tirelessly to ensure that VI-USAO offices in both St. Thomas and St. Croix could resume operations and continue the work of the Department of Justice. The District Court opened the court a few weeks after the storms, thereby requiring the USAO to resume operations under hazardous conditions. According to U.S. Attorney Shappert, "Alphonso Andrews, Meredith Edwards, Melissa Flottman, Antoinette M. James-Alleyne, James Latham, Daniel Leinenbach, Ingrid Richardson, Sophia Starr, Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte, and Keima Willett worked tirelessly, as an ad hoc administrative team, to aid the VI-USAO in recovery efforts. They worked for several months, in the office and in their homes, including during periods when Internet service was non-existent, to ensure that the USAO was operational. Because of their dedication, federal prosecutors and staff were able to serve the needs of this community after the storms."
The Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance by an Administrative Team will be presented to the VI-USAO staff during an awards ceremony at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., hosted by Department leadership, later this year. "The Virgin Islands U.S. Attorney’s Office is one of the smallest of the 94 U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the nation, but it is also one of the most dynamic and dedicated federal offices anywhere," Shappert said. "We punch above our weight. And that’s what it means to be ‘VI Proud and VI Strong.’"
Dominican Republic Man Who Mailed Narcotics from St. John Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Possession of 2 Kilograms of Cocaine with the Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Braulio Martinez, 33, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced today in District Court before District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez, to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez sentenced Martinez to 46 months followed by four years supervised release. Judge Gomez additionally ordered that Martinez pay a $100 special assessment.
According to court documents, on or about July 25th, 2017, Martinez is seen on video mailing a package from St. John, Virgin Islands, to the U.S. mainland. The package was inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and found to contain electronic equipment with two black plastic-like wrapped packages secreted inside the equipment. The packages were brick-like in shape and each contained a white powdery substance that field-tested positive for cocaine. The packages were sent to the DEA laboratory for testing and confirmed to be approximately two kilograms of cocaine.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Postal Inspection Services (USPIS) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
Dominican Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute as a Result of His Involvement in the Mailing of Four Kilograms of Cocaine from St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Domingo Diaz Diaz, 40, of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty today to possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. Diaz was remanded pending a sentencing hearing set for June 13, 2019.
According to court records, in February of 2016, Diaz was involved in the mailing of a package through the Ottley Post Office in Sugar Estate, St. Thomas that contained approximately four kilograms of cocaine, a controlled substance. Court records indicate that Diaz’ latent prints were subsequently recovered from inside of the package.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.
Former Corrections Officer Sentenced for Felony Possession of Cocaine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – Chief District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis, on January 18, 2019, sentenced Yasmeen Massicott, age 40, of St. Croix, to three years of supervised release with six months of home confinement, for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. Judge Lewis also ordered Massicott to pay a fine of $1,000.00 and a special assessment of $100.00.
On October 11, 2016, Massicott pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. According to court documents, on December 14, 2013, Massicott was stopped and searched by corrections officers as she entered Golden Grove Correctional Facility. The search uncovered cocaine powder and marijuana in a bag that she was carrying. Massicott admitted that she was bringing the drugs to an inmate for a fee. At the time of the event, Massicott was employed as a corrections officer with the Golden Grove Correctional Facility.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alphonso G. Andrews, Jr.
Three St. Croix Men Plead Guilty to Distribution of Cocaine and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced that on Friday, January 18, 2019, Robert Klyvert, 47, of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon, Jr., to distribution of crack cocaine. On January 29, 2019, Nolly King Jr., 36, pleaded guilty to distribution of crack cocaine and Thaddeus Hendricks, 39, both of St. Croix, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine, before Judge Cannon.
According to plea agreements filed with the court, in September of 2016, the defendant, Robert Klyvert, aka "Family", told a confidential human source (CHS) that he wanted to begin supplying cocaine to the CHS directly, now that one of Klyvert’s associates was dead. Through phone calls and text messages over the next few months, Klyvert informed the CHS that he had a kilogram of cocaine in Florida; that Klyvert would contact the CHS once the cocaine arrived in the United States; and that the CHS would need to travel to Florida to receive it. Klyvert also stated that the cocaine would be "fronted" to the CHS, who would have approximately a week to sell the drugs and pay $25,000 to Klyvert. In addition, Klyvert advised the CHS that the cocaine was not good for "the nose" (in other words, to snort as powder cocaine) and that it was only suitable for converting into crack cocaine. Klyvert told the CHS that if he sold this kilo quickly, the defendant’s supplier would ship another kilogram to the United States on January 2, 2017, and the CHS could purchase that kilogram as well.
After a series of text messages from Klyvert, the CHS obtained the cocaine from defendant Nolly King at King’s Florida residence. Shortly thereafter, Klyvert texted the CHS advising the CHS that he only needed to pay $22,000 for the cocaine, as the amount of cocaine was approximately 4 ounces short of a full kilo, so he did not need to pay the $25,000 they had previously agreed upon. Laboratory tests subsequently confirmed that the substance received by the CHS on December 30, 2016 was cocaine base (also known as "crack" cocaine) and cocaine hydrochloride with a net weight of over 884 grams.
Shortly thereafter on January 15, 2017, defendant Hendricks travelled from St. Croix to St. Thomas to deliver cocaine for Robert Klyvert aka "Family." The CHS picked up Hendricks at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas and transported him to the Palms Court Hotel. The CHS gave Hendricks $22,000 in exchange for cocaine that the CHS had previously picked up in Orlando. Hendricks returned to St. Croix, where Klyvert met Hendricks at the Rohlsen Airport. Laboratory tests subsequently confirmed that the cocaine transported by Hendricks had a net weight of over 971.8 grams.
Klyvert faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and not more than life, and up to a $10,000,000 fine. His sentencing date has been set for May 22, 2019. King faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and not more than life and up to a $10,000,000 fine. Hendricks faces a mandatory minimum of five (5) years and not more than 40 years and up to a $5,000,000 fine. A sentencing date has been set for May 30, 2019 for both King and Hendricks.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rhonda Williams-Henry and Melissa Ortiz.
Florida Man Charged with Procurement Fraud Related to Federal Courthouse in St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that David Wikel, president of Florida-based Therma-Seal Roof Systems, LLC, was charged with providing kickbacks in connection with the $1.7 million dollar federal government subcontract to retrofit the roof of the Ron de Lugo Federal Building in St. Thomas, VI.
According to the Information filed in the case, in May through October 2014 Wikel paid over $200,000 in kickbacks to a senior project manager for the prime contractor on the Ron de Lugo Project, and that person ultimately funneled $85,000 back to Wikel. The Informtion also alleges that Wikel falsely inflated the costs billed under the subcontract in order to cover the aforementioned kickbacks.
This case is being investigated by the General Services Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of the Inspector General, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nathan Brooks.
United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that an Information is merely a formal charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
Virgin Islands Police Department Achieves Substantial Compliance with Policing Consent DecreeRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – The Justice Department announced today that the federal district court for the District of the Virgin Islands yesterday found the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) in substantial compliance with a consent decree relating to VIPD’s use of force practices. The consent decree requires VIPD to now maintain compliance for a period of two years. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands have worked cooperatively throughout the duration of this matter.
The consent decree was entered in 2009 to address allegations of a pattern or practice of uses of force by VIPD officers that deprived persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or the laws of the United States. Pursuant to the consent decree, VIPD reviewed and revised its use of force policies, improved force investigations, modified its citizen complaint process, updated its risk management system, and provided more training to its officers. VIPD also worked closely with a court-appointed Independent Monitoring Team (IMT) to ensure full implementation of the consent decree.
"The Department of Justice applauds the Virgin Islands Police Department for implementing reforms that protect constitutional rights while enhancing the safety of police officers and the public," said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. "The court’s finding that VIPD is in substantial compliance with the consent decree is an important step, and we are pleased with the fundamental changes that VIPD has made to its practices and procedures. We will continue to monitor VIPD’s progress over the next two years to ensure that these changes are sustained and that the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands receive the effective, constitutional policing that they deserve."
"Completion of this portion of the consent decree process is vitally important to the future of the Territory," said U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert. "We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of so many VIPD officers who have worked to ensure that constitutional policing is the policy for law enforcement in the Virgin Islands. Today’s finding by the District Court underscores VIPD’s commitment to protecting the rights of all Americans, as Territorial officers work to enhance public safety."
U.S. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez announced in open court that the Virgin Islands Police Department has achieved substantial compliance with the terms of the consent decree and that VIPD will commence the two-year sustainment period. Judge Gomez congratulated the VIPD for achieving substantial compliance, noting in particular the contributions of Assistant Commissioner Curtis Griffin, Chief Compliance Manager for implementation of the consent decree. Judge Gomez also expressed appreciation for the work of the IMT and their "hands-on approach."
Virgin Islands Police Department Achieves Substantial Compliance with Policing Consent DecreeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that the federal district court for the District of the Virgin Islands yesterday found the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) in substantial compliance with a consent decree relating to VIPD’s use of force practices. The consent decree requires VIPD to now maintain compliance for a period of two years. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands have worked cooperatively throughout the duration of this matter.
The consent decree was entered in 2009 to address allegations of a pattern or practice of uses of force by VIPD officers that deprived persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or the laws of the United States. Pursuant to the consent decree, VIPD reviewed and revised its use of force policies, improved force investigations, modified its citizen complaint process, updated its risk management system, and provided more training to its officers. VIPD also worked closely with a court-appointed Independent Monitoring Team (IMT) to ensure full implementation of the consent decree.
“The Department of Justice applauds the Virgin Islands Police Department for implementing reforms that protect constitutional rights while enhancing the safety of police officers and the public,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “The court’s finding that VIPD is in substantial compliance with the consent decree is an important step, and we are pleased with the fundamental changes that VIPD has made to its practices and procedures. We will continue to monitor VIPD’s progress over the next two years to ensure that these changes are sustained and that the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands receive the effective, constitutional policing that they deserve.”
“Completion of this portion of the consent decree process is vitally important to the future of the Territory,” said U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert. “We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of so many VIPD officers who have worked to ensure that constitutional policing is the policy for law enforcement in the Virgin Islands. Today’s finding by the District Court underscores VIPD’s commitment to protecting the rights of all Americans, as Territorial officers work to enhance public safety.”
U.S. District Court Judge Curtis V. Gomez announced in open court that the Virgin Islands Police Department has achieved substantial compliance with the terms of the consent decree and that VIPD will commence the two-year sustainment period. Judge Gomez congratulated the VIPD for achieving substantial compliance, noting in particular the contributions of Assistant Commissioner Curtis Griffin, Chief Compliance Manager for implementation of the consent decree. Judge Gomez also expressed appreciation for the work of the IMT and their “hands-on approach.”
Three Dominican Republic Nationals Charged with Trafficking over 1,000 Kilograms of Cocaine, Following High-Speed Chase and Apprehension on the High SeasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI – Edwin Vargas, 31, Dany Perez-Brito, 44, and Lenin Cornelio-Perez, 32, all of the Dominican Republic, were charged with Conspiracy to Possess and Possession of a Controlled Substance on Board a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. The three men made their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller on Saturday. After preliminary and detention hearings on Monday, Judge Miller ordered all three men detained.
The complaint alleges that Vargas, Perez-Brito, and Cornelio-Perez were aboard a go-fast boat detected by United States Coast Guard (USCG) aircraft personnel about 65 nautical miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico, navigating on a southerly course. The vessel did not display any indicia of nationality. Following detection by the USCG, the go-fast boat changed course, and two USCG cutters were diverted to intercept it. The vessel led authorities on a ten-hour high-speed chase in international waters between Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. Approximately 96 nautical miles north of St. Thomas, the go-fast boat’s engines malfunctioned, leaving the vessel dead in the water. USCG authorities proceeded to board the vessel at 2:18 a.m. on December 11th and discovered 52 bales, pproximately 1,132 kilograms, of a white powdery substance that field tested positive for cocaine.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the USCG, Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (CBP AMO), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith J. Edwards.
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 found guilty.