U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice (VIDOJ)

Kingshill Court Report: Advice of Rights & Sentencings for Feb. 27, 2026

ST. CROIX — While much of the town’s attention is on high-profile violence, the Superior Court at Kingshill remains busy with a range of domestic, property, and firearm cases that…

John McCarthy February 27, 2026

At VIFreep Breaking News Crime News

Advice of Rights Held for First-Degree Murder and Attempted Murder Suspect

KINGSHILL — A heavy criminal docket met the Superior Court this morning as several high-profile Advice of Rights hearings were conducted. The most serious matter involved Clifton R. Jacobs, who…

John McCarthy February 26, 2026

At VIFreep Breaking News Community Affairs

Superior Court Tackles Littering and Illegal Dumping on St. Croix Calendar

ST. CROIX — The Superior Court of the Virgin Islands held a dedicated Citation Calendar this morning to address a wave of waste management violations across the island. Presided over…

John McCarthy February 26, 2026

At VIFreep Breaking News Crime News

DUELING DEAD PEOPLE’S ESTATES: Hawking Family Slams ‘Epstein File’ Insinuations Fueled by St. Thomas Data Blunders

THE LEAKY BUCKET: Why the Ghost of Epstein Still Haunts the USVI Cloud By John McCarthy/V.I. Free Press Staff In the United States Virgin Islands, we don't call it a…

John McCarthy February 25, 2026

At VIFreep Breaking News Crime News

White-Collar Reckoning: Understanding the Charges Against Brett “Mac” McClafferty

ST. THOMAS — Following the advice-of-rights hearing for 37-year-old Brett “Mac” McClafferty on February 23, 2026, the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice (DOJ) has signaled a rigorous prosecution through…

John McCarthy February 23, 2026

At VIFreep Breaking News Community Affairs

Protecting Your Privacy: How to Shield Your Photos from Grok’s AI Training

While Attorney General Gordon Rhea fights the legal battle in court, Virgin Islands residents can take immediate steps to protect their digital likenesses from being exploited by xAI’s "Grok" chatbot.…

John McCarthy January 23, 2026

Breaking News National News St. Croix News

BREAKING: Bipartisan Coalition of 35 Attorneys General Urges xAI to Strengthen Safeguards Against Grok’s Generation of Nonconsensual Intimate Images and Child Sexual Abuse Material

By JOHN F. McCARTHY/V.I. Free Press Staff PALO ALTO, California – January 23, 2026 – A bipartisan group of 35 state and territory attorneys general, coordinated in part by U.S.…

John McCarthy January 23, 2026

Breaking News Crime News Police News

Joshawn Ayala, Elijah Drew, 2 others hear charges against them in Superior Court

KINGSHILL — Superior Court Magistrate Judge Yolan C. Brow-Ross is scheduled to see four defendants in her courtroom in Estate Kingshill on St. Croix this morning: Elijah Drew has an advice-of-rights hearing after his…

John McCarthy January 23, 2026

Breaking News Community Affairs Health News

OP-ED: The $112,000 price of broken promises

By Virgin Islands Free Press Editorial Board In the bureaucracy of the U.S. Virgin Islands, numbers often lose their meaning. But this week, Attorney General Gordon Rhea provided one that…

John McCarthy January 20, 2026

Breaking News Health News Police News

STX MORGUE UPDATE: AG Rhea promises April opening, cites $112K in transfer costs

KINGSHILL — Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea has issued a detailed response to Senator Kenneth L. Gittens, providing a roadmap for the restoration of forensic services on St. Croix and…

John McCarthy January 20, 2026