CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix man faces federal charges that he knowingly tried to hide one of the territory’s biggest alleged drug dealers in a garage apartment on the hillside facing historic Salt River. At the time Paul “Bogus” Girard, Jr. was being sought by local and federal authorities during a manhunt that took place […]
Tag: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
BVI Native Gets Slap On Wrist From Federal Judge For Being Illegal With A Loaded Glock In St. Thomas
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A BVI native was given a less-than-one-year sentence by a federal judge for being an illegal alien in the territory carrying a concealed, loaded semi-automatic weapon. Ashan Westcott, 29, of Road Town, Tortola, was sentenced on Thursday for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert […]
BANK ROBBERY IN ST. THOMAS? VIPD Won’t Say, But They Say ‘Shots Fired’ Near Scotiabank Today
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A man is in the hospital in St. Thomas tonight after shots were fired near a Scotiabank branch near Frenchtown just after the bank opened, authorities said. Police were dispatched to Altona and Welgunst, vicinity of Scotiabank of shots being discharged, about 9:01 a.m. today, the Virgin Islands Police Department said. “One […]
Dominican Republic Native Kept Venezuelan Woman As ‘Sex Slave’ In Underground Nightclub On St. Thomas
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Assistant U.S. Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Yohanna Gonzalez-McFarlane, 38, of the Dominican Republic was arrested yesterday and charged in a criminal complaint with one count of alien harboring for financial gain and one count of interstate transportation […]
St. Croix Woman Faces 10 Years In Prison For Stealing $85,510 In Women’s Coalition Charitable Donations
CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix bookkeeper admitted in federal court that she stole $85,510 in charitable donations intended for the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix in 2014 and 2015. Kira Lee Encarnacion, 41, of St. Croix pled guilty on July 26 in U.S. District Court to one count of federal program theft, United States Attorney Gretchen […]
Violet Anne Golden, Former St. Croix Senator, Former Casino Control Chairwoman, Slapped With 28 Federal Criminal Charges
CHRISTIANSTED — Violet Anne Golden and accused co-conspirator Stephanie Barnes have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that include money laundering and conspiracy to commit theft from programs receiving government funds, authorities said. The indictment comes two months after former St. Croix Senator Golden said she felt like “a common criminal” upon […]
Ranger American Security Officer Found Guilty of Stealing $70,000 From Banco Popular ATM
CRUZ BAY — Clement Bougouneau, 52, of St. Thomas, was found guilty of bank burglary and larceny after a two-day jury trial in U.S. District Court, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced. According to trial testimony, on September 4, 2017, shortly before Hurricane Irma made landfall, Bougouneau used his access and inside knowledge as […]
‘Pedophile Island’ Is What People Here Called Jeffrey Epstein’s Little St. James
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Ask about Jeffrey Epstein on St. Thomas and rooms go quiet. Some people leave. Those who share stories speak in barely audible tones. The 66-year-old billionaire bought Little St. James Island off of St. Thomas more than two decades ago and began to transform it — clearing the native vegetation, ringing the […]
Cruise Ship Law: Everything You Need to Know
Despite being the butt of many lawyer-themed jokes, maritime law is a real thing and it is a lot more convoluted than one would think. Most people think they’ll never have to worry about maritime law, it isn’t like the average person spends an extended period of time on a boat where it’s likely it’ll […]
BVI’s Ashan Westcott Admits To Being Illegal Alien With A Gun In St. Thomas
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A native of the British Virgin Islands admitted in federal court to being an illegal alien with a gun in St. Thomas. Ashan Randolph Westcott, 28, of Road Town, Tortola, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Curtis Gomez to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. […]