The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched an investigation into Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) Commissioner Ray Martinez, with significant implications also for Jenifer O’Neal, the Director of the Virgin Islands Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
This development, confirmed by several USVI news agencies, follows the issuance of a target letter to Martinez and the confiscation of his cellphones and those of his wife by federal agents.
A target letter from the FBI, delivered through the U.S. Department of Justice, formally notifies an individual that they are under investigation in connection with a federal crime. This letter typically outlines the nature of the investigation and specifies the alleged criminal activities, indicating substantial evidence of the individual’s involvement in illegal actions and urging them to seek legal counsel.
The investigation centres on allegations that a St. Thomas-based firm, contracted by the VIPD and signed off by Commissioner Martinez, provided him with funds to complete a personal restaurant project after securing the contract.
In a related development, OMB Director Jenifer O’Neal was served a search warrant and subpoena, and her cell phone was also seized by federal agents. She is expected to either testify or provide documents to a federal grand jury on June 24, the same day Martinez is set to appear to challenge the federal charges against him.
Since the news of the development, USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has requested the resignation of both Martinez and O’Neal.
This high-profile investigation comes amid broader federal scrutiny of government officials in the United States Virgin Islands.
Recently, Davidson Charlemagne, Director of Maintenance at the V.I. Department of Education, and Darin Richardson, former Chief Operating Officer of the V.I. Housing Finance Authority, were indicted on charges including government programme fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. Charlemagne’s wife, Sasha, was also implicated and arrested in connection with the alleged scheme.