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 […]
Category: U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents Seize $372,000 In Cash At Bordeaux Bay
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized $372,000 in undeclared currency found inside a duffle bag on the beach near a vessel found in Bordeaux Bay, St. Thomas, authorities said. “Transnational criminal organizations seek to conceal and move currency from their activities,” Johnny Morales, director, Air and Marine Operations for the Caribbean […]
U.S. Attorney’s Office Offers Training Session For HUD Community Development and Block Grant Grantees
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said her St. Thomas office will kick off a two-day training session for HUD Community Development and Block Grant – Disaster Recovery grantees, sub-grantees and contractors, and law enforcement agencies on Thursday. The training is being hosted in conjunction with the U.S Department of Housing and Urban […]
‘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 […]
Coast Guard Nabs 14 Haitian Migrants, One Dominican Migrant And One Suspected Smuggler Off Florida Beach
MIAMI — The U.S. Coast Guard interdicted 14 Haitian migrants a Dominican migrant and a suspected smuggler Wednesday 12 miles east of Boynton Beach. Coast Guard 7th District watchstanders received a report from the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office of a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations aircraft detecting an unlit 30-foot cabin cruiser […]
Federal Prosecutor Gets EPA Gold Medal for Exceptional Service as Part of the DOJ Terminix Criminal Enforcement Team
WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said that Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Chisholm, together with Senior Litigation Counsel Howard Stewart of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Environmental Crimes Section, were awarded the Gold Medal for Exceptional Service today at the Ronald Reagan and International Trade Building. Chisholm, a 28-year veteran prosecutor in the Virgin […]
Four Drug Smugglers Arraigned On Charges Of Bringing 3,384 Pounds Of Cocaine To Region
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Three South Americans and one Central American were charged in federal court today with drug smuggling in Caribbean waters patrolled by the United States, authorities said. Freddy Montano Paz, 29, Calixto Tumbaco, 41, Mariano Abregon, 42, and Hector Hernandez Saucedo, 48, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for arraignment and detention […]
Wayne James, Convicted of Wire Fraud, Embezzlement: ‘I’m Entitled To A New Trial’
CHRISTIANSTED — Former St. Croix Senator Wayne James, who was found guilty by a federal jury of stealing public money, is saying in court that he wants a new trial. But prosecutors argue that he should have to serve the remainder of his 30-month prison sentence. “Former U.S. Virgin Islands Senator Wayne A.G. James used […]
Texas Drug Mule Faces 5 Years In Prison For Bringing 20 Pounds of Weed To St. Croix
CHRISTIANSTED – A Texas drug mule who was to be paid only $1,500 for smuggling 20 pounds of marijuana from Dallas to St. Croix now faces five years in prison for her exploits, authorities said. Kieantia Thomas-Okeke, 38, of Dallas, pled guilty to one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in U.S. […]
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 […]