Acting Governor Tregenza A. Roach joined the Division of Personnel and government employees from across the territory on Wednesday for the 36th Annual Employee of the Year Recognition Ceremony at Government House on St. Croix, celebrating the dedication, professionalism and service of public employees throughout the Government of the Virgin Islands.
Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach at the 36th Annual Employee of the Year Recognition Ceremony in St. Croix. (Submitted photo)
The annual ceremony recognizes employees from departments, agencies and offices whose work reflects the best of public service. The 2026 honorees were celebrated for their commitment to excellence, reliability, leadership, teamwork and their daily contributions to the people of the Virgin Islands.
Acting Governor Roach congratulated this year’s honorees and thanked all government employees for the work they do each day to serve residents and keep the territory moving forward.
“Public service requires patience, discipline and a deep sense of responsibility,” Acting Governor Roach said. “The employees recognized today represent the very best of those values. They are examples of what it means to serve with dignity, consistency and pride.”
Acting Governor Roach said the Employee of the Year ceremony is an important reminder that the progress being made across the Virgin Islands is driven not only by policy, funding or projects, but by the men and women who carry out the daily work of government.
“So much of what government employees do happens quietly, without fanfare and often without enough public recognition,” Acting Governor Roach said. “But their work matters. It matters to the family applying for assistance, the senior waiting for service, the student walking into a new school, the driver using a safer road and the resident who needs government to respond with professionalism and care. Today, we say thank you.”
Among those recognized were the Office of the Governor’s 2026 Employees of the Year, Naydyeyah Acoy-Thomas, Administrative Coordinator on St. Croix, and Leonard Rabsatt, Dignitary Security Officer with the Executive Security Unit on St. Thomas.
Acoy-Thomas and Rabsatt were honored for their professionalism, dedication and service to the Office of the Governor and the people of the Virgin Islands.
The ceremony brought together employees, agency leaders, family members, and colleagues to celebrate honorees from across the executive branch. The event also served as a broader tribute to the thousands of public servants who support essential government operations in every district and at every level of service.
The Division of Personnel coordinates the annual Employee of the Year recognition program as part of the Government of the Virgin Islands’ ongoing effort to acknowledge outstanding performance and encourage a culture of excellence throughout the public workforce.
Personnel Director Cindy Richardson said the honorees represent the strength, talent and commitment found across the government.
“These employees were selected because they go beyond what is required,” Director Richardson said. “They lift their teams, serve the public with professionalism and help set the standard for what government service should look like. We are proud to celebrate them and grateful for all they continue to contribute.”
Acting Governor Roach said recognizing public employees remains central to strengthening the government workforce, improving service delivery and building a culture that values accountability, professionalism and pride in public service.
“Every successful government depends on capable and committed public servants,” Acting Governor Roach said. “The employees we honor today are proof that the Government of the Virgin Islands is filled with people who care deeply about this territory and who are doing their part to build a stronger Virgin Islands.”
The Government of the Virgin Islands congratulates all 2026 Employees of the Year and extends its appreciation to every government employee across the territory for their continued service to the people of the Virgin Islands.
2026 Employees of the Year
The Government of the Virgin Islands congratulates the following 2026 Employees of the Year:
Office of the Governor
• Naydyeyah A. Acoy Thomas, St. Croix District
• Leonard Rabsatt, St. Thomas/St. John District
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
• Anita N. Bright, St. Croix District
• Diana P. Brown, St. Thomas/St. John District
Office of the Public Defender
• Sonsirez E. Robles, St. Croix District
• Christine Danet, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Lottery
• Hector Romero, St. Croix District
• Wendy Pinney, St. Thomas/St. John District
Bureau of Corrections
• Sonia Joseph-Ganzy, St. Croix District
• Joan Thomas, St. Thomas/St. John District
Bureau of Internal Revenue
• Kristal E. Carr, St. Croix District
• Andy A. Breton, St. Thomas/St. John District
Bureau of Information Technology
• Josephie E. Martinez, St. Croix District
• Julian Al. Jackson, St. Thomas/St. John District
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
• Kerl Joseph, St. Croix District
• Jannel Edward, St. Thomas/St. John District
Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance
• Dennis S. Hendrickson, St. Croix District
• Charles R. Azille, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Agriculture
• Anthony Brown, St. Croix District
• Raymond Thomas, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Finance
• Keturah Nurse, St. Croix District
• Latisha Venzen, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Health
• Renise R. James, St. Croix District
• Kim L. Christopher, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Human Services
• Maria Colon Clarke, St. Croix District
• Yvette Charmian Henry, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Labor
• Elvis Lewis, St. Croix District
• Faye Reed, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
• Kimery Franklin, Licensing Officer, St. Croix District
• John Richardson, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Planning and Natural Resources
• Jeneva Lawrence, St. Croix District
• Shyra Raymond-Henley, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Property and Procurement
• Trevor Charles, St. Croix District
• Sharin Jennings, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Public Works
• Yaneria Knight, St. Croix District
• Jermaine Tyson, St. Thomas/St. John District
Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation
• Keimoy Felix, St. Croix District
• Neal Thomas, St. Thomas/St. John District
Election System of the Virgin Islands
• Marianna Aaron-Romero, St. Croix District
• Milagritos Venzen, St. Thomas/St. John District
Government Employees’ Retirement System
• Franz Christian, St. Croix District
• Tewanna Eddy, St. Thomas/St. John District
Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center
• Delarie Lewis-Thomas, St. Croix District
Judiciary of the Virgin Islands
• Deja Charles-Cole, St. Croix District
• Derek Peets, St. Thomas/St. John District
Legislature of the Virgin Islands
• Pedro J. Estein, Jr., St. Croix District
• Amerika Williams Leonard, St. Thomas/St. John District
Magens Bay Authority
• Augustin St. Rose, St. Thomas/St. John District
Office of the Adjutant General
• Geary Sinanan, St. Croix District
• Addison George, St. Thomas/St. John District
Office of Collective Bargaining
• Nikima Richards, St. Croix District
• Roshanna Malone, St. Thomas/St. John District
Office of Management and Budget
• Shakyra King, St. Croix District
• Arthur Williams, Jr., St. Thomas/St. John District
Office of Veterans Affairs
• Lashern Hunter-Gordon, St. Croix District
• Keishell Daniel, St. Thomas/St. John District
Schneider Regional Medical Center
• Grace Bailey, St. Thomas/St. John District
University of the Virgin Islands
• Robert Phipps, St. Croix District
• Mylon Frett, St. Thomas/St. John District
U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
• Iyahnna Hiss, St. Croix District
• Nicole George-Petersen, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Board of Education
• Patricia Alexander, St. Croix District
Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission
• Odingo Davila, St. Croix District
Virgin Islands Department of Education
• Jeselle Cruse-Peter, St. Croix District
• Renee Nisbett, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Department of Justice
• Gisselle Quinones, St. Croix District
• Staniqua Mason, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority
• LaShanna McBean de Chabert, St. Croix District
• Jessica Taylor, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Energy Office
• Megan A. Grant, St. Croix District
• Bliss D. Bully III, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Fire & Emergency Services
• John D. Bermudez, Firefighter, St. Croix District
• Donny Daniel, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority
• Nelson Sweeney, St. Croix District
• Hakim Alexander, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Police Department
• Florence Clercent, St. Croix District
• Candy L. Wattley, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Port Authority
• Elvis Wattley, St. Croix District
• Mario Pinder, Information Technology, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System (WTJX)
• Marisol Garcia, St. Croix District
• Isabelle L. Teare, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority
• Julysah Willock, St. Croix District
• Kiesha Schulterbrandt, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency
• Dari-Lee Jacobs, St. Croix District
• Noreen Taylor, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
• Thyrone O. Decosta, St. Croix District
• Micah J. Smith, St. Thomas/St. John District
Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority
• Kira Francis, St. Croix District
• Jennifer Tavernier, St. Thomas/St. John District
Division of Personnel
• Kristal Francis, St. Croix District
• Anita Brooks, St. Thomas/St. John District
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority advises customers that its online payment services platform will be temporarily unavailable from 4 p.m. on Friday, June 5 through 8 a.m. on Monday, June 8, due to scheduled system maintenance.
Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority
During this maintenance window, customers will be unable to make electronic payments through the WAPA website, phone or kiosks.
In addition, the Sunny Isles Business Office on St. Croix will have limited service on Friday, June 5 to accommodate staff participation in an employee health event.
The Sunny Isles Business Office will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing cashier services only. No in-person customer service or account support will be available. Customers seeking customer support assistance may contact WAPA by phone at (340) 773-2250 (Option 5) or via email at customer.service@viwapa.vi.
Regular operations at the Sunny Isles Business Office will resume on Monday, June 8.
Thirteen athletes from the St. Croix Track Club (Mustangs) traveled to McDonough, Georgia, to compete at the Champions United Track & Field Meet, showcasing exceptional determination, competitive maturity, and the unmistakable spirit of the Virgin Islands. The athletes ranged in age from 11 to 18 years old.
Front Row: Rajon Charles, Eve Frederick, Sophia Clarke, Malachi Maclorrain, Faith Eatmon, Juvantia Hurst, Charlise Morris, Khaiem Hansen, Grace Eatmon. Back Row: Julio Soto, Keith A. Smith Sr., Juan Robles, Yahraya Doctrine, Juvante Hurst, and Jah’Quan Creque (Submitted photo)
Facing an excruciatingly hot and unfamiliar climate, the Mustangs rose to the challenge with grit and perseverance.
Many athletes competed in three to five events, spanning sprints, hurdles, jumps, middle distance, and relays. Despite the harsh conditions, the team produced multiple personal records (PBs) and earned several medals, including three gold‑medal performances.
Events included:
100m, 200m, 400m
100m & 400m Hurdles
800m
Long Jump & High Jump
4x100m & 4x400m Relays
Charlise Morris delivered a commanding performance in the Long Jump, winning gold with a leap of 5.33 meters — a new personal best. Her result stood out as one of the top field performances of the meet. She also placed third in High Jump with a clearance of 1.47 meters. Another personal records. In the 4x100m Relay, the quartet of Yahraya Doctrine, Rajon Charles, Juvante Hurst, and Jah’Quan Creque captured gold with a blazing time of 43.27, just missing the Virgin Islands U20 record by nine hundred of a second. I
n a display of mental strength, endurance, and teamwork, Juvante Hurst, Yahraya Doctrine, Julio Soto, and Jah’Quan Creque secured gold in the 4x400m relay, clocking 3:46 and closing the meet with a dominant finish.
The team recorded numerous personal bests, including strong sprint improvements from athletes such as Malachi Maclorrain, Juvantia Hurst, Khaiem Hansen, Eve Frederick, Sophia Clarke, and Faith Eatmon, as well as a technical event breakthrough from Malachi Maclorrain who won gold in the High jumps.
“Our athletes competed extremely well under the harsh conditions, and I am truly proud of them,” said Coach Juan Robles, Head Coach of the under 13 athletes and Assistant Coach for the over 13 athletes. “They showed true grit, embraced the challenge, and represented the Virgin Islands with honor. Their performances reflect the discipline, heart, and commitment that define our program.”
Special thanks go to our parents, coaches, and the VI Lottery for their support and assistance. For questions, contact Keith A. Smith Sr. at 340-277-1123—Program Director. We are registered under the name—TeamVI. Full results can be found at — https://coachoregistration.com/dbi-bin/meetinfopage.pl
Helena Constable Nelson, affectionately known to many as “Mrs. Madrie,” passed away peacefully on May 7, 2026, at the age of 77. Born on Aug. 18, 1948, in St. Lucia, Helena touched the lives of many through her kindness, strength, resilience, and unwavering love for her family and friends.
Helena Constable Nelson
Helena spent many years living in Princess, St. Croix, before permanently relocating to Houston, Texas. She worked at the airport in St. Croix for many years and was known for her warm smile, caring spirit, and dedication to those she loved.
She was preceded in death by her loving parents, Lawrence and Euganie Constable; her daughter, Hiltrude “Maggie” Constable-Hamilton; and her brothers, Lucious and John Constable.
She leaves to cherish her memory her children, Solomon (Bertron), Karen, and Suzie; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a large extended family, including siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many dear friends whose lives were enriched by knowing and loving her.
Family and friends are invited to pay their respects during the visitation on Friday, June 12, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Calvary Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, 21723 Aldine-Westfield Road, Humble, Texas 77338.
A Celebration of Life service will follow from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., with a Committal Service immediately afterward from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Helena’s memory will live in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
A social media flyer was enough to bring a small group of frustrated residents to the Legislature on Tuesday morning, where they gathered to protest the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority following days of outages, power interruptions, and growing concerns about the utility’s reliability.
The demonstration began with about a dozen people outside the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall and grew modestly throughout the morning. Several attendees said they were unsure who originally created or circulated the flyer but felt compelled to show up after another week marked by service disruptions across St. Thomas and St. John.
The gathering came at the tail end of about three days of outages on St. Thomas-St. John. On Monday, WAPA Chief Executive Officer Karl Knight warned that the Randolph Harley Power Plant remained in an unstable condition after Unit 27 tripped Saturday evening because of a fuel valve issue, triggering what he described as a “series of cascading technical issues” that complicated restoration efforts. Knight cautioned that additional interruptions remained possible as crews worked to bring generating units back online. Service disruptions continued Tuesday, with additional outages reported in portions of the district.
For many attending the protest, the latest outages were simply the most recent chapter in a problem they say has persisted for years.
“It’s certainly a cause,” resident Tim Moos said. “Everybody complains about WAPA. The public keeps paying. There are major life inconveniences and financial strains. When is somebody going to fix it?”
Among those attending was Sen. Ray Fonseca, who used the occasion to renew his call for federal assistance to help address the utility’s longstanding challenges.
“WAPA has reached the crisis stage,” Fonseca said. “The problems that exist at WAPA are not for a lack of financial resources. It’s partly due to a lack of technical expertise and deferred maintenance.”
Fonseca said he plans to bring a resolution before lawmakers during an upcoming special session that would petition Congress for assistance from agencies including the U.S. Department of Energy, FEMA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“I’m not talking about a federal takeover,” he said. “I’m talking about federal assistance.”
The senator argued that despite substantial public funding directed toward the utility in recent years, reliability has continued to decline.
“We’ve given WAPA over $300 million,” Fonseca said. “The hospital needs this money. The Health Department needs this money. Human Services needs this money. We’re pumping all this money into WAPA and the service is getting worse and worse.”
Business owners also spoke about the practical effects of recurring outages. Moos said businesses without generators often struggle to process credit card transactions, keep customers comfortable, or operate normally during extended power interruptions.
“If your businesses don’t have power and they don’t have a generator, they can’t run their credit cards. They can’t run air conditioning,” he said, noting that generators themselves represent a significant investment for many small businesses.
Labor leader Carver Farrow said the frustrations expressed Tuesday are likely to carry into the political season. He pointed to a Democratic gubernatorial debate scheduled for June 26 at Charlotte Amalie High School and discussions being organized by the newly formed Virgin Islands Area Labor Federation, an AFL-CIO affiliate, where WAPA’s future is expected to be a major topic.
“One of the concerns that people have is WAPA hasn’t been doing a good job for years and years and years,” Farrow said. “Some people are advocating privatizing WAPA. They believe it would do a better job than what we’re doing now.”
Farrow said residents are increasingly looking for answers about why outages continue despite years of public investment and ongoing federal recovery funding aimed at modernizing the territory’s energy infrastructure.
“Right now, there’s no accountability,” one resident said. “Nobody is answering any questions. The governor is not answering. The administrator for WAPA is not answering. The board is not answering. So who do we go to?”
The protest was followed Tuesday evening by another district-wide outage, which WAPA said in an alert was also caused by reduced generation at the Harley Plant.
Former V.I. Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former Management and Budget Office Director Jenifer O’Neal are set to be sentenced next week at the federal court building on St. Thomas. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)
In memoranda filed in U.S. District Court Tuesday, federal prosecutors asked a judge to sentence former V.I. Police Commissioner Ray Martinez to up to 30 years in prison and former Management and Budget Director Jenifer O’Neal to seven years following their conviction on charges of wire fraud, bribery and money laundering conspiracy. Martinez was also found guilty of obstructing justice.
Martinez’s sentencing is scheduled for June 9 and O’Neal’s is slated for June 11. On June 10, a judge will also sentence David Whitaker, a convicted felon and former cybersecurity contractor who became a cooperating witness in the government’s case against Martinez and O’Neal as well as the case against former Sports, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Calvert White and businessman Benjamin Hendricks.
Prosecutors first brought charges against Martinez and O’Neal last January. They accused Martinez of helping Whitaker secure a nearly $1.5 million VIPD contract funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. After the contract was awarded to Whitaker’s company, Mon Ethos Pro Support, he inflated multiple invoices for Martinez and O’Neal to authorize in exchange for things like kitchen equipment for Martinez’s restaurant — Don Felito’s Cookshop — tuition payment for his kids’ private school and a security deposit for O’Neal’s coffee shop, Java Grande.
The government’s sentencing recommendations came just days after U.S. District Court Judge Mark Kearney denied the pair’s requests for new trials. In a May 28 memorandum, Kearney said evidence shown at trial “overwhelmingly confirmed the officials’ disregard for the rule of law.”
On Tuesday, U.S. Justice Department trial attorney Alexandre Dempsey and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cherrisse Amaro wrote that Martinez should be sentenced to 292-365 months followed by three years of supervised release and pay a $250,000 fine.
“To abuse his cabinet position to benefit himself, Martinez cynically chose service to himself over service to his community,” they wrote. “In addition to its brazenness, the scheme damaged and undermined the government’s procurement integrity. Other companies who believed that they were competing on a level playing field — and citizens who thought that their public officials were maximizing their taxpayer dollars — both realize now that they have been deceived and cheated.”
Prosecutors added that after being confronted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Martinez reacted by attempting to destroy records and forge documents.
“The public was entitled to receive the defendant’s honest and faithful services, and it is evident that they received far less,” they wrote. “The defendant’s betrayal of his duty to the people of the Virgin Islands is a serious offense. He must be held accountable, particularly given his willingness to involve and direct others as part of his scheme and attempt to obstruct justice after the fact.”
Martinez, who is represented by attorneys Miguel Oppenheimer and Juan Matos de Juan, challenged the government’s sentencing calculus and asked Kearney for a five or six-year sentence. Oppenheimer and Matos de Juan said their own sentencing memorandum was “not primarily” about the arithmetic of sentencing guidelines.
“It is about Ray Martinez the person: a 57-year-old first-time offender who devoted more than three decades of his life to the people of the United States Virgin Islands as an Army soldier, an aircraft rescue firefighter, a labor relations officer, an internal affairs director, an intelligence director, and ultimately the Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department,” they wrote. “He is a father, a husband, a son, and a neighbor who, even as the most senior law enforcement officer in the territory, continued to work the streets, respond to crime scenes, and feed the hungry.”
The attorneys also noted Martinez’s health. In 2023, Martinez underwent brain surgery in Boston. At trial, prosecutors showed jurors how Whitaker financed Martinez’s trips by paying for first-class airfare, stays at a lavish luxury resort and even a $1,082 dinner at an upscale steakhouse.
“The individual before this Court is someone whose life, before this case, was defined by service to others,” Oppenheimer and Matos de Juan wrote. “A sentence of 60 to 72 months constitutes serious, real punishment that accounts for the gravity of the offense without consigning a man of his age, health, and history to what would effectively be a death sentence inside the Bureau of Prisons.”
For O’Neal, prosecutors requested 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $100,000 fine. A sentencing memorandum submitted by Dempsey and Amaro noted that O’Neal is “highly educated, professionally accomplished, and deeply experienced in government administration and finance” and that she earned a six-figure salary while occupying one of the most powerful positions in the Virgin Islands Government.
“She was not struggling for survival. She was not acting out of desperation. She was not manipulated into participating in conduct that she did not understand,” they argued, adding that O’Neal’s background is significant “because it demonstrates that she fully understood both the mechanics and the unlawfulness of the scheme.”
O’Neal had yet to file her own sentencing request by Tuesday evening.
In a precedential opinion, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a V.I. District Court order striking the death penalty in the murder case of Richardson Dangleben Jr., who is accused in the 2023 shooting death of V.I. Police Detective Delberth Phipps Jr.
The 28-page opinion, handed down Monday and authored by Circuit Judge Thomas Hardiman, found that the issue was not, “as the Government frames it, ‘whether to seek the death penalty’ falls within the purview of the Executive Branch; it does. … Instead, the issue is whether courts have the right to manage their cases; they do.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office was correct that it retains “discretion to evaluate the appropriate charges based on known facts,” even in a jurisdiction that has abolished the death penalty, Hardiman wrote, but “it is equally true that the Government cannot usurp the Court’s case-management function. On the facts of this case, the District Court did not abuse its discretion when it struck the Government’s very belated (and contradictory) notice to seek the death penalty.”
A grand jury returned a 13-count indictment against Dangleben, 54, in October 2023, charging him with first-degree murder and other violations of federal and territorial laws in connection with the shooting death of Phipps, 42, on July 4 that year, and the assault of another officer who also responded to the 911 call concerning a man with a gun in Hospital Ground on St. Thomas. He has pleaded not guilty.
While the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in February 2024 that it would not seek the death penalty, it reversed course in May 2025 after an executive order from President Donald Trump lifting former President Joe Biden’s moratorium on federal executions. Dangleben’s attorney, federal Public Defender Matthew Campbell, filed a motion opposing the about-face and after briefing by both sides, V.I. District Court Chief Judge Robert Molloy struck the government’s notice from the record last August, ruling that the case would proceed as a noncapital case.
In a memorandum opinion Sept. 15 explaining his decision, Molloy listed a number of concerns regarding the timing of the USA’s death notice so late in the process, including that it was not based on new information that wasn’t previously available to the government; it was filed 459 days after the original “no-seek” notice of Feb. 7, 2024; 22 months after Dangleben’s initial arrest; 19 months after the first indictment; and less than five months before trial.
“Even if the Government now seeks relief from the deadline, it has waived or forfeited any right it had or may have had to such relief,” he wrote.
Moreover, the “preparation for a death-penalty case is dramatically different in approach and scope from a non-death penalty case. Clearly, the Government’s Death Notice, if allowed to stand, would require Defendant ‘to substantially alter his yearslong preparations for trial,’” Molloy said.
With the trial date just three weeks away, the DOJ appealed Molloy’s order to the Third Circuit the same day he issued his opinion, essentially halting further District Court proceedings. Oral argument was held Dec. 9 before a three-judge panel.
In its opinion Monday, the appellate court largely agreed with Molloy on the death penalty ruling but reversed and remanded his order dismissing Counts 2 and 3 of the superseding indictment — discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence — and Count 1, use of a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death, with instructions to reinstate those charges.
Campbell had argued that they failed to state an offense under the United States Code because the predicate offenses upon which the charges are based are local territorial offenses, and Molloy agreed.
“Dangleben argues that even if the plain language of the statute can be read to allow local offenses to serve as predicate offenses under Section 924(c), such an interpretation would lead to the absurd result of Virgin Islands defendants being able to be prosecuted under a version of a federal offense not available in any other federal court,” Molloy wrote in his Sept. 15 opinion. “Consequently, Virgin Islands defendants would be subjected to harsher punishment under a version of Section 924(c) that could not be applied anywhere else in the United States. The Court agrees,” said Molloy.
However, the appellate court found that such offenses can qualify as predicate “crimes of violence” under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A), which punishes firearm use during violent crimes prosecuted in a “court of the United States,” because the District Court of the Virgin Islands is legally considered such.
“For starters, territories are not states. Congress has plenary power over the territories, so some differential treatment between the two is to be expected,” according to the opinion. “‘[A]s a United States territory, the U.S. Virgin Islands does not have independent sovereignty but derives such powers as its [G]overnment possesses directly from congressional grant under article IV, section 3 of the federal Constitution.’ Given that backdrop, there is nothing absurd about allowing § 924(c) charges to be premised on Virgin Islands territorial crimes of violence that already may be prosecuted in the District of the Virgin Islands, a federal court,” it said.
“One ‘conceivable justification’ for this result … is that Congress wanted to deter and punish the violent use of firearms in the Virgin Islands by extending the enhanced punishments in § 924(c) and § 924(j) to all offenses over which the District of the Virgin Islands has jurisdiction — territorial and federal,” Hardiman wrote.
Molloy canceled Dangleben’s Oct. 6 trial date after the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed its notice of appeal last September and a new trial date has not been set. Both sides may still seek a review of the appellate court’s decision by filing a petition for a rehearing within 14 days after entry of the judgment.
Dangleben remains in pretrial detention at the Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center in Puerto Rico. He also faces first-degree murder charges in V.I. Superior Court in the shooting death of Keith Jennings on Feb. 24, 2023, also in the Hospital Ground area, for which he was free on bail when Phipps was shot and killed. That case was set for trial last October but proceedings were canceled due to the ongoing federal case.
Federal monitors say VIPD continues to meet expectations set out in the 2009 Use of Force Consent Decree, with two of 51 mandatory improvements still outstanding. (Source file photo)
Compliance monitors and lawyers from the U.S. Department of Justice told a federal judge on St. Thomas they looked forward to the day when the Virgin Islands Police Department will no longer be subject to a consent decree first imposed in 2009. Testimony and statements to that effect were heard late last week before Chief District Judge Robert Molloy at a compliance hearing.
The court declared VIPD in substantial compliance with directives spelled out in the consent decree in 2018. The agency and its top brass are now working their way through a period of continuous compliance, which, if completed successfully, will bring the matter to an end.
When the directives were set 17 years ago, the U.S. Justice Department said V.I. police were engaged in excessive use of force against citizens, and that investigations of misconduct were inadequate. Officials also cited VIPD for training deficiencies and poor supervision of its officers.
But USDOJ Special Litigation Attorney Jeffrey Murray, in his May 14 status report to Molloy, said all but two of the 51 mandatory compliance steps were still outstanding. “ … VIPD continues working to improve its systems and practices beyond the requirements of the consent decree,” Murray said.
The Independent Monitoring Team identified those sections as Use of Force Management and Supervision. “This marks the third consecutive quarter in which IMT has found VIPD in full compliance with the Management and Supervision requirements,” read the wording in the May 14 report.
Police also signaled progress in their latest status report, filed by former V.I. Attorney General Ariel Smith. “As of May 19, 2026, VIPD had no backlogged Use of Force investigations in either district assigned to command staff,” Smith said.
Both sides acknowledged a handful of Level 1 UOF cases that remained open one year after they were first filed.” This includes three Level 1 Force Investigations that were older than one year … and a citizen complaint investigation that opened in October 2025,” Murray said. “We will continue working with VIPD and IMT to ensure compliance for Use of Force and Management and Supervision is durable, with an eye toward full termination of the Consent Decree.”
At the end of the latest hearing, Molloy set the next evidentiary hearing covering compliance actions from March 1 to May 31 for Aug. 17 at 9 a.m.
By the time collegiate sailing nationals roll around each spring, Antilles School alumni can usually be found scattered across the roster sheets of some of the country’s top programs.
Yet despite representing different schools, many still gather together afterward for the same annual photograph — one that has become a point of pride for a sailing program that continues to send graduates to the sport’s highest levels.
On Tuesday, seniors Halina Diehl and Emma Walters took the next step toward joining them.
The two Antilles sailors announced their commitments to continue their academic and athletic careers at Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively, during a campus press conference Tuesday celebrating not only their accomplishments, but the continued success of a sailing program that has become one of the territory’s most successful pathways to collegiate competition.
“We’re one of the best-kept secrets out there,” Athletic Director Mark Daniel said.
The announcement came at the conclusion of a season that required a younger Antilles team to find its footing after graduating a large senior class a year ago. Head Coach Thomas Barrows said many of the team’s returning sailors were asked to take on larger leadership roles while continuing to compete at a high level, Diehl and Walters among them.
“We had a big group of seniors graduate last year who had been some of the top performers on the team for quite some time,” Barrows said. “It was exciting to see how everyone had to step up, not just in terms of competition, but in terms of leadership and setting the team culture.”
Barrows said the growth was evident throughout the season as younger sailors took on greater responsibility, helping the team remain competitive while building a foundation for the future. At one point during the season, Antilles was positioned to qualify for nationals before ultimately finishing fourth, a result he said reflected both the team’s progress and potential.
For Walters and Diehl, the recruiting process looked a little different, but both described it as a lesson in patience, persistence, and trusting the process.
Walters, who will sail at Penn, said she began seriously navigating the recruiting process during her junior year, while Diehl described months of conversations, research, and waiting before ultimately finding the right fit at Cornell. Both credited coaches, teammates, and family members for helping them navigate the process and prepare for the next level.
Both sailors also pointed to the challenges of this season as important preparation for what comes next. Learning to adapt to changing conditions, competing against top fleets, and taking on leadership roles helped build confidence both on and off the water.
Their commitments add another chapter to a story that has been unfolding at Antilles for more than two decades.
Middle and Upper School Director Kim Ballowe reflected on the origins of the program, which was established in the early 2000s through a partnership between community members and the school. Designed to build on the Virgin Islands’ strong youth sailing culture, the program quickly developed into a bridge to collegiate competition and, for many students, opportunities that extended far beyond St. Thomas.
Over the years, Antilles sailors have captured multiple national championships and gone on to compete for some of the nation’s top collegiate programs. Alumni including Barrows and his younger brother Ian, along with Taylor Canfield, Cy Thompson, and Nikole Barnes, among others, helped establish the program’s reputation, earning collegiate All-America honors, national championships, Olympic appearances, and professional sailing success along the way.
That tradition continues today. Earlier this month, collegiate sailing announced its annual All-America teams, with Antilles alumni Winborne and Katherin Majette, and Caroline Sibilly, earning recognition at the college level. And each spring, as collegiate nationals come to a close, former Antilles teammates representing colleges across the country still find themselves reunited for that familiar photograph — a reminder of the school and community that helped launch their journeys.
Ballowe noted that the program’s success extends well beyond sailing results.
“We’re not just sending sailors to college,” she said. “We’re sending students who are going to do well academically, succeed in college, and build careers afterward.”
2025 Space Camp VI Scholarship Recipients. Back row from left: Colum Morgan, Seamus Henry O’Donnell, Anaïs Craig, Kali Calhoun, and Sumyah Mark; Front row from left: Naitik Jhanwar and Tiera J’Nai Polanco. (Photo courtesy RapierMed)
Students from across the U.S. Virgin Islands will have the opportunity to attend Space Camp this year through scholarships funded by RapierMed, a contribution supporters say will help expand access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for local youth.
The scholarships will cover all program costs for participating students, allowing them to attend Space Camp’s Advanced Space Academy, where they will take part in astronaut training, engineering challenges and mission simulations designed to develop leadership, technical skills and problem-solving abilities, a press release announced.
At the academy, students are introduced to potential academic and career pathways in aerospace, engineering and technology. Participants also learn about scholarship opportunities available to Space Camp alumni through the University of Alabama in Huntsville, according to the press release.
“Dr. George Rapier and our entire RapierMed team are proud to support another year of Space Camp scholarships for students across the Virgin Islands,” said Sarina Blanco, director of compliance and special projects for RapierMed, LLC. “We remain committed to investing in opportunities for our youth that encourage them to reach for the stars.”
Organizers said the scholarships remove financial barriers that might otherwise prevent students from participating in the nationally recognized program.
“We are launching more than just dreams—we’re launching futures,” said Dee Baecher-Brown, president of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. “We’re grateful to Kym Rapier and RapierMed for making this possible.”
The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands administers a variety of scholarship programs for students throughout the territory, the press release stated
For more information about establishing a scholarship fund or supporting Virgin Islands students through CFVI scholarship programs, visit cfvi.net/Scholarships or contact general.info@cfvi.net.
