U.S. Virgin Islands Senior Officials Charged in Bribery, Money Laundering Case
Jenifer O’Neal, a former U.S. Virgin Islands government budget director, has been charged alongside former Police Commissioner Ray Martinez in a money laundering and bribery conspiracy case. Photo credit: U.S. Virgin Islands Office Of Management and Budget.
The VIDP has jurisdiction everywhere in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), and the police commissioner commands the VIPD, as detailed in the indictment. Martinez was appointed police commissioner in July 2021 by Governor Albert Bryan Jr.
O’Neal, the VI-OMB director appointed by Governor Albert Bryan Jr. in February 2019, was in charge of the budget plans and requests and was tasked with reporting on the budget’s performance, according to the indictment. A USVI government contractor for the VIPD was David Whitaker, who operated a cyber-security firm called Mon Ethos Pro Support, LLC.
Starting in November 2022, Martinez allegedly solicited bribes from Whitaker to include rent and school tuition payments for Martinez’s family members, sports events tickets and all-expenses-paid luxury trips, according to the indictment. In exchange, Martinez would reportedly facilitate the payment of invoices to Whitaker’s companies or direct other VIPD officials to do so.
O’Neal also allegedly solicited and accepted cash payments in exchange for her authorizing Whitaker’s invoice payments to his businesses, according to the indictment. O’Neal reportedly directed and even pressured OMB officials to facilitate the invoice payments to accomplish this.
Whitaker had allegedly provided services to the VIPD and met with Martinez in November 2022 at Martinez’s restaurant to inquire about payment for the services, according to the indictment.
Martinez allegedly told Whitaker that he was too busy trying to run his new restaurant and couldn’t help get Whitaker’s invoices paid, according to the indictment. Whitaker reportedly offered to help Martinez with equipment for his restaurant if Martinez helped get the invoices paid.
On Nov. 28, 2022, Whitaker allegedly purchased equipment for Martinez’s restaurant for $3,656.74, according to the indictment. On Dec. 14, 2022, Whitaker reportedly purchased another $1,443.85 in equipment for the restaurant. Whitaker also allegedly provided money for the restaurant’s operational supplies and labor for the next half a year.
Between April 5, 2023, and June 27, 2023, Whitkaer allegedly wired $27,214.48 to a construction company for restaurant repairs, as well as sent money to Martinez’s spouse, according to the indictment. In May 2023, Whitaker paid $22,586.86 for himself and Martinez to travel to Boston, which included a $1,082.71 steakhouse dinner.
In exchange for the gifts, including tuition payments for Martinez’s children in October and December 2023 and February 2024, Martinez reportedly helped Whitaker secure multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts from the government, according to the indictment.
Approving Fraudulent Invoices
In January 2024, Whitaker allegedly requested from O’Neal that $15,000 be added to his next invoice in exchange for $10,000 worth of gifts, according to the indictment. O’Neal reportedly directed an OMB to approve the invoice.
Both Martinez, who allegedly accepted $110,358, and O’Neal, who reportedly received $17,730 in bribes, face over 40 years in prison if convicted, according to the DOJ press release.
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