During a routine patrol in St. Croix’s Sion Farm neighborhood on Wednesday, the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) apprehended a local man for unauthorized firearm possession. This arrest was facilitated by the keen senses of a K9 unit from the VIPD’s Special Operations Bureau.

The incident unfolded when officers observed two individuals hastily departing a white Toyota Tacoma and securing it, prompting suspicion. A trained K9, specializing in the detection of weapons and ammunition, was deployed to the vehicle. The dog promptly signaled the detection of a firearm.

With permission from the truck’s registered owner, officers searched the vehicle and discovered a Walter P .45 Caliber handgun inside the glove compartment. Jamal Roebuck, 41, who asserted ownership of the gun during the operation, was arrested at the scene.

Roebuck now faces charges of carrying a firearm openly or concealed and possessing or selling ammunition. He remains in custody with bail set at $50,000 as he awaits further court proceedings.

In a significant blow to drug trafficking on St. Thomas, a joint operation between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) has resulted in the indictment of five individuals. U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith disclosed the details of the operation on Thursday, which targeted illegal narcotics activities in the Red Hook district.

The individuals facing charges are Jamil Bell, 43; Peter Francis, 33; Niah Henry, 44; Anwar Lockhart, 41; and Kenson Plasimo, 43. They have been formally accused by a federal grand jury of trafficking cocaine and oxycodone pills. The sting operation, conducted from December 5 to December 7, 2023, utilized undercover agents to infiltrate the drug trade and facilitate the purchase of these substances directly from the accused.

Assistant United States Attorneys Cherrisse R. Woods and Kimberly M. Riley are leading the prosecution. While the charges represent a significant step forward in the legal process, U.S. Attorney Smith stressed that an indictment should not be seen as proof of guilt. According to Smith, all accused parties are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendants are currently awaiting further court proceedings.

In a significant legal ruling at the John A. Bell Correctional Facility in St. Croix, two ex-correctional officers were found guilty of assaulting an inmate and impeding an FBI probe. United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced the conviction of Maxwell Bryan, 53, and Elvin Bloice, 72, after a jury deliberated for eight days.

Maxwell Bryan was convicted of violating an inmate’s rights through physical assault, while both he and Elvin Bloice were found guilty of obstructing justice. Additionally, Bloice was convicted of making false statements to the FBI.

The evidence presented at trial detailed an incident on September 17, 2021, where Bryan assaulted an inmate who had refused to re-enter his cell. Bryan struck the inmate twice on the forehead and choked him. Throughout the assault, Bloice was seen partially obscuring the cell’s door, presumably to block surveillance footage.

This assault was reportedly a retaliation for an earlier dispute on August 23, 2021, when the same inmate had damaged Bryan’s vehicle by kicking its door.

Post-assault, Bryan and Bloice composed and submitted fabricated incident reports in an attempt to conceal the wrongdoing. Bloice also lied about the incident during an FBI interview conducted on October 4, 2021.

United States Attorney Smith reiterated the dedication of her office to protecting the civil and constitutional rights of all individuals, emphasizing that abuses of power would not be tolerated. “This case underlines our resolve to prosecute Color of Law violations robustly, ensuring that no individual misuses their authority at the expense of another’s rights,” she stated.

The investigation was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Deputy Chief Forrest Christian of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division providing additional support. United States Attorneys Evan Rikhye and Dan Huston led the prosecution efforts.