News

St. Thomas, VI –United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that on February 25, 2026, a federal jury convicted Nigel Cooper, 52, of the British Virgin Islands, for possession of a counterfeit alien registration card, also known as a “permanent resident card.” District Court Judge Mark A. Kearney presided over the trial.

Tristin Carr, 21, of St. Croix, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson III on February 13, 2026, to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Former Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation (SP&R), Calvert White, was sentenced to five years in prison for soliciting and accepting a bribe from a government contractor in exchange for assistance in attempting to obtain a $1.43 million dollar government contract.

A federal jury returned guilty verdicts against defendants Miguel Orr and Romaine Betty following a multi-day trial involving large-scale maritime drug trafficking.

David J. McDonald, 31, appeared before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson III on criminal charges related to bank fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and false statements.

Shaheel Singh, 25, of California, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson III on January 15, 2025, to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

A federal jury convicted Mikey Luke, 52, of St. Croix, of maintaining a drug-involved premise.

John Paul Cunningham, 31, was sentenced by Senior District Judge Wilma A. Lewis for possession of child pornography. Judge Lewis sentenced Cunningham to 84 months’ imprisonment, 15 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Restitution will be determined later.

United States Department of Justice filed a complaint against the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) alleging that the territory’s unreasonable delays and conditions on lawful gun owners’ rights create an unconstitutional permitting process in violation of the Second Amendment.

A Dominican Republic national, Tommy Walter Ramirez, 36, was sentenced to 20 months’ incarceration by Chief District Judge Robert Molloy.
According to court documents, on May 24,

Ray Martinez, former Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), and Jenifer O’Neal, former Director of the Virgin Islands Office of Management and Budget (OMB), were found guilty on all counts following a one-week jury trial before United States District Judge Mark A. Kearney. Martinez and O’Neal were convicted of participating in a wide-ranging public corruption scheme involving honest services wire fraud, federal program bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and, in Martinez’s case, obstruction of justice.

Jamoi Weekes, 31, of St. Croix, was sentenced last week by Senior District Judge Wilma A. Lewis for influencing federal officers by threats to 18 months of imprisonment, two years of supervised release, 20 hours of community service, and a $1,000 fine.