News

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper is now Acting U.S. Attorney
St. Thomas, VI – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today the departure of Delia L. Smith as U.S. Attorney.

St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Nicole Morales, 48, a California native and resident of St. Croix, was sentenced by District Judge Wilma A. Lewis to 16 months incarceration following her guilty plea in November 2024, to three counts of wire fraud. Judge Lewis also ordered Morales to pay restitution in the amount of $372,496.34, and a special assessment in the amount of $300.00. 

St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Joan Tavarez
Bueno, 33, of the Dominican Republic, was charged with illegally entering the United States after
being previously removed.

St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Miguel Marrero, 52, of St. Croix, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson, III, to Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Assault in the First Degree, and Assault in the First Degree. For his conviction, Marrero faces a maximum sentence of up to life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Jose Miguel Hodge, 31, of the British Virgin Islands, was charged with alien smuggling. Also charged were Junia Orelus, 32, Clawens Destin, 18, and Jean Louis Martellus, 27, all of Haiti, and Eudys Santana Santos, 33, of the Dominican Republic, with unlawful entry into the United States.

St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that a federal jury convicted Omaily Sanchez Taveras, 36, of the Dominican Republic, of alien smuggling after a two-day trial. For his conviction, Taveras faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of incarceration and a maximum fine of $250,000.

St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Danny Dennevil, alias Danny Dorcine-Turnbull, 34, of Tortola, BVI, was sentenced by Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy to 92 days of imprisonment following his plea of guilty to the charge of illegally bringing aliens to the United States.

An indictment was unsealed today charging Ray Martinez, the former police commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), and Jenifer O’Neal, the former director of the Virgin Islands Office of Management and Budget, with participating in a bribery and money laundering conspiracy. Both defendants made their initial court appearances today in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

An indictment was unsealed today charging Calvert White, the commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation (SP&R), and Benjamin Hendricks, a local businessman, with participating in a bribery scheme. Both defendants made their initial court appearances today in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that William Giraldo Cabanzo, 59, of Columbia, was sentenced by Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy to six months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Bring Aliens to the United States.

St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Mario Montano Camacho, 41, and Juan Ignacio Reyes Delgado, 48, both of Ecuador, were each sentenced to 78 months of incarceration by Chief Judge Robert A. Molloy after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine While on Board a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States. A third defendant, Edison Quijije Cuzme, 35, also of Ecuador, was sentenced to 78 months earlier this month following his guilty plea to the same charge. All three defendants are subject to deportation after serving

St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Ivan James, 40, Joh Williams, 38, Malachi Benjamin, 28, Ariel Petersen, 28, and Jahkiebo Joseph, 26, all of St. Croix, were sentenced by District Court Judge Mark A. Kearney for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy led by Ivan James from his Estate LaGrange compound in Frederiksted, St. Croix.