76.4 F
Cruz Bay
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsLocal newsMore Powder Found at Bank; Suspect Faces Federal Charges

More Powder Found at Bank; Suspect Faces Federal Charges

More envelopes of white powder showed up at the Altona office of Scotiabank on Thursday morning, officers at the scene reported, causing the bank to be closed again. The FBI said Thursday that the woman arrested in the case has been charged with "mailing threatening communications."

According to Carlos Osorio of the FBI’s office in San Juan, Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Leff announced the arrest of Eugenia Winston. The FBI charged her under 18 USC 876(c), "Mailing of Threatening Communications." If convicted, Wilson faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

On Tuesday, three letters containing a suspicious white powder were found at the U.S. Federal Building and a private attorney’s office, the FBI reported. People who came in contact with the powder were quarantined, the buildings were evacuated and the scenes secured.

The 23rd Civil Support Team, part of the V.I. National Guard, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, VITEMA, and the FBI Weapons of Mass Destructions coordinator responded along with the FBI St. Thomas Resident Agency and other federal and local agencies.

The CST field tested the powders at both locations and determined them to be non-hazardous, although final determination of what the powder is will be determined by lab tests.

On Thursday, another 24 suspicious powder letters were found at the U.S. Federal Building, the Frenchtown Post Office, Scotiabank and one private attorney’s office.

The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, VI Fusion Center and the V.I. Police Department identified Winston as the suspect and subsequently arrested her.

Thursday morning the bank was again closed and an officer at the scene said additional envelopes of powder had been found. The FBI, VIPD and V.I. Fire Services declined to confirm that report.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Chisholm, and jointly investigated by the FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.