A St. Croix woman, Ana Felix, has been charged with felony child neglect after her children were reportedly left unattended while she attended a party. This incident came to light when a 3-year-old boy was discovered wandering alone at Breezewood Villas apartment complex late on Thursday, May 9.

At around 10:30 p.m., responding to a distress call about the toddler, police were directed by a neighbor who had noticed the child around 9 p.m. The neighbor, realizing the child was unsupervised and inadequately dressed, provided a diaper and alerted authorities.

Upon investigating the apartment indicated by the neighbor, officers found it unoccupied except for a sleeping 10-year-old girl. She initially claimed her mother was at work but later revealed that her mother had gone to a party and was not expected back until morning. Attempts to contact Felix using multiple phone numbers found in the apartment were unsuccessful.

Community members expressed repeated concerns about the children’s welfare, describing previous instances where they intervened to provide care for Felix’s children due to her absence. The officers were able to contact the children’s father, who was unaware of the situation but came promptly to collect his children.

While awaiting his arrival, police discovered the children lacked basic necessities and could not secure their home due to a missing key. The maintenance supervisor at the complex reported previous similar incidents involving the older child, stating he had considered reporting Felix to the Department of Human Services.

The following day, Felix appeared at the Wilbur Francis Command Police Station claiming her children were taken. During a subsequent phone conversation with the police, she admitted to frequently leaving her children alone at home, citing a lack of support and child care assistance.

Felix was arrested on Friday, May 10, when she returned to her residence. Initially held on a $50,000 bail, there is no current information available on the outcome of her advice of rights hearing, which took place on April 13 before Magistrate Ernest Morris, or any adjustments to her bail conditions pending trial.

ST. THOMAS — United States Attorney Delia L. Smith has announced that Augusto Rodriguez-Molina, a 37-year-old Tortola resident and Dominican Republic national, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for cocaine smuggling. The sentence, issued by District Judge Wilma A. Lewis, also includes two years of supervised release post-incarceration.

Rodriguez-Molina was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. According to court documents, on January 9, 2022, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations intercepted a suspicious, unmarked vessel northeast of St. Croix in international waters, a known drug trafficking zone. The vessel, showing no signs of nationality, was considered stateless and thus under U.S. jurisdiction.

Found aboard the vessel with Rodriguez-Molina were three other British Virgin Islanders: Shannon John, Sean John, and Emmanuel Tolentino-Lebron. The authorities seized 567 kilograms of cocaine from the vessel. All involved parties have pleaded guilty to charges of cocaine conspiracy, with sentences ranging from 57 to 70 months in prison.

This interception was a collaborative effort between Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative, which aims to dismantle major criminal organizations that threaten national security. Further information on the OCDETF program can be found on the Justice Department’s website.

A St. Croix man, Ambrose Daniel, aged 44, faces serious allegations following a federal grand jury indictment for various firearm violations, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Daniel was brought before U.S. Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson III for arraignment after the indictment, which includes charges of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and unlawful possession of a machine gun.

The legal actions against Daniel originated from a May 10, 2019, raid on his residence in the All for the Better neighborhood of St. Croix. Federal authorities confiscated a Glock Model 21, .45 caliber pistol, 48 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, and a conversion device that could modify the pistol into a fully automatic weapon.

Daniel’s criminal history includes a 1997 felony conviction for third-degree assault in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, which bars him from legally owning firearms.

The potential consequences for these charges could be severe, with Daniel facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted. The sentencing will be at the discretion of a federal district court judge, based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory considerations.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Police Department, is handling the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Huston is leading the prosecution.

This case is a component of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, a nationwide campaign aimed at reducing violent crime and enhancing safety in communities across the United States. More details on this initiative can be found on the Department of Justice’s website.